Correctional Officers Face Court as Plea Deals Emerge in Shocking Prison Homicide

By Dawn LaGuerre

In a case that has sent shockwaves through New York’s correctional system, ten former prison guards appeared in Oneida County Court this week facing charges in the brutal killing of 43-year-old inmate Robert Brooks. The death, ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, has exposed a disturbing culture of violence and impunity within the walls of Marcy Correctional Facility.

The Fatal Assault: A Timeline of Horror

Robert Brooks arrived at Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9, 2024, after being transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility. Ironically, the transfer was reportedly for his protection after he had sustained a facial injury. Instead of finding safety, Brooks encountered a nightmare.

Within hours of his arrival, Brooks—who was handcuffed and compliant—was subjected to a savage beating by multiple correctional officers. Body camera footage, though lacking audio as the cameras were in standby mode, captured the horrific assault in chilling detail.

The footage shows officers repeatedly punching, kicking, and choking Brooks while he was restrained. In one particularly disturbing sequence, an officer placed both hands around Brooks’ neck and lifted him from an examination table in the infirmary. Officers were also seen stripping Brooks of his clothing and continuing the assault while he was unresponsive.

By 2:30 AM on December 10, 2024, Brooks was pronounced dead at Wynn Hospital in Utica. The autopsy revealed the cause of death as “asphyxia due to compression of the neck,” compounded by multiple blunt force injuries, including a broken nose, extensive bruising, and internal bleeding in his neck and groin area.

The Accused: Charges and Court Proceedings

The ten correctional officers charged in connection with Brooks’ death face a range of serious charges:

• Nicholas Anzalone: Second-degree murder
• Nicholas Kieffer: Murder, manslaughter, and gang assault
• Nicholas Gentile: Tampering with evidence
• Michael Fisher and Michael Mashaw: Manslaughter
• Mathew Galliher, Anthony Farina, and David Kingsley: Murder and manslaughter
• Christopher Walrath and David Walters: Manslaughter

During this week’s pretrial conferences, Special Prosecutor William Fitzpatrick confirmed that his office had extended formal plea offers to each defendant. While details of these offers remain confidential, the defendants are scheduled to return to court throughout April to either accept or reject the deals.

In the latest development, Michael Fisher and Michael Mashaw appeared individually on Wednesday and were granted more time to consider the plea agreements offered to them. This follows a pattern as other officers have also requested additional time to weigh their options.

A Culture of Abuse and Cover-Up

The Robert Brooks case has exposed not just individual acts of violence but systemic failures within New York’s correctional system. Reports from watchdog groups, including the Correctional Association of New York, have documented a pattern of abuse at Marcy Correctional Facility. After interviewing over 100 inmates in 2022, the group described a “pervasive culture of fear and retaliation.”

Particularly troubling are allegations of obstruction of justice and institutional cover-ups. The New York Attorney General recused herself from the case due to conflicts of interest, as her office had previously represented some of the implicated officers in civil lawsuits.

Without the body camera footage, this incident might have been dismissed as a routine disciplinary matter. This raises serious questions about how many similar cases have gone unreported or uninvestigated in facilities across the state.

The Betrayal of Public Trust

The death of Robert Brooks represents a fundamental betrayal of public trust. Correctional officers are entrusted with the care and custody of incarcerated individuals, regardless of their crimes. The brutal actions captured on video demonstrate not just a failure of duty but a complete disregard for human life.

“These are people’s lives we’re talking about,” Prosecutor Fitzpatrick stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. Yet for Brooks, this recognition came too late.

The case is particularly disturbing given that several of the officers now facing charges had previously been named in abuse complaints. This suggests a pattern of behavior that went unchecked until it escalated to homicide.

Calls for Reform and Accountability

In response to the case, Governor Kathy Hochul has taken steps to address the immediate situation and broader systemic issues. She ordered the termination of all state employees involved in Brooks’ death and appointed a new superintendent at Marcy Correctional Facility. Additionally, she launched a broader initiative to reform the state’s prison system.

The Brooks family has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that New York’s prison system is “dangerously broken.” Their attorney, Elizabeth Mazur, described the case as “open and shut,” urging the courts to hold those responsible accountable.

Advocacy groups and legal experts have called for comprehensive reforms, including:

• Mandatory body cameras for all correctional officers
• Independent oversight committees
• Enhanced training programs to prevent excessive use of force
• Transparent reporting mechanisms for abuse allegations

The Path Forward: Justice for Robert Brooks

As the court dates approach, the Brooks family and civil rights advocates remain committed to seeking justice and pushing for overdue reforms in New York’s prison system. The federal investigation remains active, focusing on potential civil rights violations and broader issues within the state’s correctional system.

The case of Robert Brooks must serve as a catalyst for change. No one—regardless of their status as an inmate—deserves to die at the hands of those sworn to protect them. The brutality captured on video demands not just individual accountability but a complete overhaul of a system that has allowed such abuses to persist.

As this case proceeds through the courts, we must remember that true justice for Robert Brooks extends beyond the punishment of individual officers. It requires a commitment to creating a correctional system that upholds human dignity and operates with transparency and accountability.

The death of Robert Brooks was not an accident or an isolated incident—it was the predictable outcome of a system that has tolerated abuse and shielded perpetrators from consequences. For meaningful change to occur, we must confront this reality and demand better from those entrusted with state power.

Call to Action

As citizens, we must demand transparency in our correctional system and support legislation that enhances oversight and accountability. Contact your state representatives to express support for prison reform measures, including mandatory body cameras and independent review boards for abuse allegations.

Remember that incarcerated individuals, regardless of their crimes, retain their fundamental human rights. By standing up for these rights, we uphold the principles of justice and human dignity that should guide our society.