Four New York Prison Guards Sentenced in Inmate Killing

Four prison guards were sentenced Friday for their roles in the death of Robert Brooks, who was fatally beaten while handcuffed at the Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9 of last year. The sentencing followed guilty pleas submitted in September, shortly before the guards were scheduled to stand trial.

Sentences for Marcy Correctional Facility Guards

Two of the guards, Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina, originally faced murder charges. Both pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and each received 22-year prison terms. Two additional guards, Michael Mashaw and David Walters, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. Mashaw received a sentence of three to nine years, while Walters received two years, four months to seven years.

Brooks, 43, had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault and had been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility on the night of the incident. Video evidence showed Brooks being struck in the chest with a shoe, lifted by his neck, and dropped while handcuffed.

Statements from Family Members

Prosecutors read written statements from Brooks’ relatives during the sentencing hearing. His brother, Jared Ricks, and his son, Robert Brooks Jr., submitted statements describing their reactions to the video evidence. They were not permitted to read the statements themselves after objections from defense attorneys, following a paperwork issue cited by the prosecution.

Related Cases and Prior Pleas

The case is one of several involving correctional staff at the same prison complex. In May, guard Christopher Walrath pleaded guilty to manslaughter under an agreement with prosecutors and was sentenced in August to 15 years. Another guard pleaded guilty that same month to attempted tampering with evidence and received a one-year conditional discharge.

A separate trial last month resulted in the conviction of guard David Kingsley on murder and first-degree manslaughter charges. Two others, Mathew Galliher and Nicholas Kieffer, were acquitted. Kingsley faces a potential life sentence. Another guard, Michael Fisher, is scheduled for trial in January on a second-degree manslaughter charge.

Additional Prosecutions at Mid-State Correctional Facility

Special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick is also handling charges related to the March 1 fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi at the nearby Mid-State Correctional Facility. Eight guards have reached plea deals in that case, while five are scheduled to stand trial in March, including two charged with murder.