UTICA, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced murder charges Thursday in the death of Robert Brooks, an inmate who was beaten by guards in a correctional facility in upstate New York.
Hochul said in a statement:
“Robert Brooks should be alive today. The brutal attack on Mr. Brooks was sickening, and I immediately moved to terminate the employment of those involved. Now, the perpetrators have been rightfully charged with murder and State Police are making arrests.”
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence at Marcy Correctional Facility — a prison where reports of “rampant abuse” had been documented by a watchdog organization, WHAM 13 reported.
According to a grand jury indictment released on Thursday, six correctional officers have been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. All five were also charged with manslaughter. One of the defendants was also were charged with gang assault.
Court documents showed one defendant’s name was redacted. The remaining five defendants named in the indictment were Anthony Farina, Mathew Galliher, Christopher Walrath, David Kinglsey and Michael Mashaw.
The five men who were identified in the indictment pleaded not guilt in court on Thursday.
Officers Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher and David Walters, who were only charged with manslaughter. Nicholas Gentile was charged with tampering with evidence. All four also pleaded not guilty.
Judge Robert Bauer set bail at $100,000 cash or $250,000 bond for the officers have been charged with murder. Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond for Officers Mashaw, Fisher and Walters. Officer Gentile was released without bail.
All nine defendants are scheduled to return to court March 31.
More on the explosive court appearance and Robert Brooks’ death investigation.
