Four prison guards admit guilt in the beating death of Robert Brooks at an upstate New York facility.
Four prison guards have pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of Robert Brooks, who suffered fatal injuries during an incident at Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York last year. The guards, Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina, each accepted first-degree manslaughter charges as part of a plea agreement, which mitigated their original second-degree murder charges. Both Anzalone and Farina are expected to receive sentences of 22 years in prison.
Additionally, Michael Mashaw and David Walters have pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, having stood by as Brooks was brutally attacked. Mashaw faces a prison sentence of three to nine years, while Walters faces a sentence ranging from 30 months to seven years.
The circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death are shocking. The 43-year-old inmate was transferred to the Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9. Shortly after his arrival, he was taken to the prison infirmary, where he was surrounded by multiple guards who proceeded to physically assault him, employing punches, kicks, choking, and other forms of brutality. This violent incident, which took place on December 10, was captured on body camera footage and ultimately led to charges against ten guards involved in the assault. Brooks succumbed to his injuries the following day, with an official ruling of homicide announced in January.
Prior to Monday’s plea deals, two out of the ten guards had already negotiated their own agreements. Christopher Walrath admitted to charges of manslaughter in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence, while Nicholas Gentile pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence by cleaning the crime scene. Gentile’s penalty includes resigning from the state corrections department and receiving a one-year conditional discharge.
The legal proceedings are not yet concluded, as four additional guards—David Kingsley, Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer, and Michael Fisher—are scheduled for trial beginning on October 6. Kingsley, Galliher, and Kieffer face murder charges related to Brooks’ death.
As the case continues to unfold, the family of Robert Brooks, particularly his son, has expressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions, highlighting the need for justice in the wake of this tragic event. Media News Source will continue to follow this story as developments arise.
