Latest news with #ChristopherWalrath
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Eight correction officers are headed to trial, letting jury hear charges related to Marcy prison beating
UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Eight of ten correction officers accused of beating an inmate at the Marcy Correctional Facility to death will let an Oneida County jury decide their fate, each having rejected the chance to plead guilty immediately and avoid a trial in exchange for a softer sentence. In Oneida County Court on Monday, May 19, two remaining defendants formally turned down plea agreements offered by the special prosecutor's office. The promise had been a sentence of 15-18 years in prison in exchange for admission of guilt to some of the charges. The eight officers still facing charges are headed to a shared trial, unless the judge agrees to any requests from defense attorneys to sever their cases. A trial date has not been scheduled. Conviction of murder by a jury risks each defendant more than 25 years in prison. Two officers have already admitted guilt to their role in the beating of inmate Robert Brooks. On May 5, Christopher Walrath pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for 15 years in prison and dropping the murder charge against him. On May 14, Nicholas Gentile admitted guilt to attempted tampering with physical evidence. Eight correction officers are headed to trial, letting jury hear charges related to Marcy prison beating Second Marcy officer pleads guilty in beating death of Robert Brooks; Three more reject plea deals Three former Marcy correction officers reject plea deal in beating death of Robert Brooks case First officer pleads guilty for role in brutal beating death of inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility 'Wasteful manner': Frustrated judge allows two more weeks for Marcy offers to decide on plea agreements 'There's something going on:' Violent prison culture allowed inmate deaths, governor says Two more officers given more time to consider plea offer made in Marcy prison case Three correction officers charged with beating death of Marcy inmate get more time to consider plea agreement 'Not a… deal:' Attorney defending correction officer isn't impressed with prosecution's plea offer in prison beating case Officers charged with Marcy inmate's murder have two weeks to consider avoiding trial with guilty plea offers Sixth correction officer charged with murder after beating Marcy inmate Six correction officers charged with murder for beating inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility Onondaga County DA plans 'noteworthy development' in case of Marcy inmate homicide Push for NYS prison reform New Yorkers rally for Robert Brooks outside the Onondaga County DA's office Death of Robert Brooks ruled a homicide, Gov. Hochul pushes for arrests Governor defends keeping Marcy prison open despite calls to close facility after inmate's death New bill aims for 'swift justice' in NYS Correctional abuse cases Assemblyman spends night at Marcy Correctional Facility Some NYS lawmakers call for the closure of Marcy Correctional Facility Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
15-05-2025
- CNN
New York prison guard says he cleaned up blood of fatally beaten inmate in plea
A New York corrections officer admitted in court Wednesday he cleaned up blood from the fatal beating of an inmate that was captured on bodycam videos in an attempt to conceal evidence. Nicholas Gentile pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted tampering with physical evidence in the Dec. 9 beating of Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility. Publicly released video of the assault, which shows officers beating Brooks while his hands were cuffed behind his back, sparked condemnation and calls for reforms. Gentile, 36, was among 10 guards indicted in February in connection with Brooks' death. Six officers were charged with second-degree murder. Gentile was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with physical evidence. Under questioning from the judge and a prosecutor, Gentile acknowledged he knew about the assault by fellow guards, cleaned up Brooks' blood and failed to document it. Under a plea agreement, Gentile was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, meaning he can avoid prison time if he resigns his job and obeys the law. He also waived his right to appeal. He declined to make a statement in court. One former officer charged with murder in the assault, Christopher Walrath, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter earlier this month. Three other prison workers have reached agreements but had yet to enter those pleas, according to prosecutors. Brooks began serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault in 2017 and was transferred Dec. 9 to Marcy, a prison about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York City. Special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick has said Brooks was beaten three times that night, the last of which was the fatal attack caught on bodycam footage. Brooks, 43, was declared dead the next day. Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County district attorney, also is prosecuting guards in the fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi on March 1 at another Marcy lockup, the Mid-State Correctional Facility.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
New York prison guard says he cleaned up blood of fatally beaten inmate in plea
A New York corrections officer admitted in court Wednesday he cleaned up blood from the fatal beating of an inmate that was captured on bodycam videos in an attempt to conceal evidence. Nicholas Gentile pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted tampering with physical evidence in the Dec. 9 beating of Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility. Publicly released video of the assault, which shows officers beating Brooks while his hands were cuffed behind his back, sparked condemnation and calls for reforms. Gentile, 36, was among 10 guards indicted in February in connection with Brooks' death. Six officers were charged with second-degree murder. Gentile was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with physical evidence. Under questioning from the judge and a prosecutor, Gentile acknowledged he knew about the assault by fellow guards, cleaned up Brooks' blood and failed to document it. Under a plea agreement, Gentile was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, meaning he can avoid prison time if he resigns his job and obeys the law. He also waived his right to appeal. He declined to make a statement in court. One former officer charged with murder in the assault, Christopher Walrath, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter earlier this month. Three other prison workers have reached agreements but had yet to enter those pleas, according to prosecutors. Brooks began serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault in 2017 and was transferred Dec. 9 to Marcy, a prison about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York City. Special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick has said Brooks was beaten three times that night, the last of which was the fatal attack caught on bodycam footage. Brooks, 43, was declared dead the next day. Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County district attorney, also is prosecuting guards in the fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi on March 1 at another Marcy lockup, the Mid-State Correctional Facility.
