SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California lawmaker says he will renew an attempt to make it illegal for prison inmates to have cell phones after a newspaper reported cult killer Charles Manson was once caught using one in prison.
Sen. Alex Padilla, a Los Angeles Democrat, said Friday he will introduce his bill for a third time. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the last effort, saying it did too little to deter smuggling.
Padilla issued his statement after the Los Angeles Times reported that Manson was once caught with a cell phone and had made calls and sent text messages from Corcoran State Prison.
Corrections department spokeswoman Terry Thornton says Manson's phone was confiscated in March 2009 and he has not been caught with one since.
The corrections department has banned cell phones from prison, but Padilla wants to outlaw the practice.
