In Utica, NY, four prison guards were sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the 2023 death of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated Black man at Marcy Correctional Facility. The guards pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges, stemming from the brutal beating, which was captured on body camera footage. Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina received 22-year terms, while Michael Mashaw and David Walters received sentences ranging from two years, four months to nine years. The sentencing followed the convictions and plea deals of other guards involved in the case, with the trial for another guard scheduled to begin in January and trials in another fatal beating at a different lockup.
Read More
In the case of Robert Brooks, a Black inmate who died after being brutally beaten at a New York prison, four guards have pleaded guilty. These pleas came just before the trial for the other guards indicted in February. Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina, both facing the top charge of murder, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and will be sentenced to 22 years in prison. Two other guards also pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, with varying sentences. The beating, which was captured on video, triggered outrage and calls for prison reform.
Read More
Six correctional officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility were indicted on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of inmate Robert Brooks, who died from a beating shown in bodycam footage. Two additional officers face gang assault charges, while four others face varying charges related to the incident. Governor Hochul immediately terminated the employment of fourteen employees involved and ordered arrests following the release of the indictment. Brooks’ death was ruled a homicide resulting from neck compression and blunt force trauma.
Read More
Body camera footage released by New York Attorney General Letitia James shows the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks by correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility. The video depicts officers repeatedly punching and kicking the handcuffed Brooks, ultimately resulting in his death from asphyxiation. Following the release of the disturbing footage, Governor Hochul ordered the dismissal of fourteen correctional facility employees, and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision launched an investigation into the incident. Attorney General James emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating that the video evidence was shocking and disturbing.
Read More
Body-worn camera footage from the Marcy Correctional Facility depicts correctional officers fatally beating a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, resulting in an investigation by New York’s attorney general. The video shows officers punching, kicking, and otherwise assaulting Brooks, even placing an object in his mouth before repeatedly striking him. While four officers wore body cameras, audio was not recorded; the Attorney General has vowed a thorough investigation. Governor Hochul and the state Department of Corrections have condemned the actions and promised institutional changes to prevent future incidents.
Read More
Body-worn camera footage from the Marcy Correctional Facility depicts correctional officers fatally beating a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, resulting in an investigation by the New York attorney general. The video shows officers punching and kicking Brooks, even shoving an object into his mouth and striking him with a shoe. While four officers’ body cameras recorded the visual aspects of the incident, they failed to capture audio. Governor Hochul and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision condemned the actions, vowing institutional change to prevent future occurrences.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker