NY Prison Guards Sentenced to Prison for Brutal Beating of Inmate, Captured on Body Camera

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Four prison guards have been sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the brutal beating of an incarcerated Black man at an upstate New York prison. The incident, which occurred on December 9, 2022, was captured on body camera footage and sparked widespread outrage. Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina, who initially faced a murder charge, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received 22-year sentences. Two other guards, Michael Mashaw and David Walters, also pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and were sentenced to 3-9 years and 2 years and 4 months, respectively. The victim, Robert Brooks, was a 43-year-old man serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault. He was transferred to the Marcy Correctional Facility on the night he was beaten and died shortly after. The body camera footage shows Brooks being struck in the chest with a shoe and lifted by his neck. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors read statements from Brooks' relatives, who expressed their hopes for justice and called for reform within the prison system. The case has raised concerns about the treatment of incarcerated individuals and the need for accountability among prison guards. This is not the first case of abuse at the Marcy Correctional Facility, with a separate incident resulting in the death of Messiah Nantwi earlier this year. Eight guards have pleaded guilty in connection with Nantwi's death, while five others are scheduled to stand trial in March. The Marcy Correctional Facility and the Mid-State Correctional Facility, where the incidents occurred, are located about 180 miles northwest of New York City.