Arizona man sentenced to additional prison time for role in murder from behind bars

PHOENIX — An Arizona inmate’s sentence was extended by 42.75 years due to his role in various crimes that took place within prison, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Jonathan Peterson, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of participating in a criminal street gang, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Peterson was already serving 24 years in prison for gang-related crimes. The new sentence will start in 2029.

Why was Arizona man sentenced to more prison time?

Peterson used a smuggled cell phone to arrange the murder of law enforcement informant Juan Raygoza in October 2017, according to authorities. He worked with accomplices outside the prison to bring Raygoza to the area where he was killed.

After Raygoza’s death, two of the accomplices in the murder plot were killed and another person was targeted in a murder attempt, authorities said.

Authorities said the case was built through cell phone analysis, accomplice statements, recorded calls and ballistics evidence.

“This defendant murdered an individual for cooperating with law enforcement—an act that was meant to intimidate and silence others,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a news release Monday. “No matter how clever criminals believe they are, this conviction sends a clear message—we will track them down and hold them accountable, no matter where they are.”

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