Ten Correction Officers Indicted In Death Of New York Inmate

The dealings inside of New York's prisons have been in the news a lot over the last few weeks thanks to a few very unfortunate and tragic events that have happened in the Empire State.

Over the last week or so, dozens of New York State Correctional Officers have been on strike due to what they call unsafe and unfair working conditions. The COs who have been participating in what is considered an illegal strike according to New York State Law and are in danger of being thrown in jail themselves due to their actions.

While the battle lines are being drawn between the Correctional Officers and the state officials who support them and the New York State residents and lawmakers who believe that state law enforcement officers should themselves follow the law, there is another group of people who are paying attention to another major issue that was allegedly caused by several rogue New York State Correctional Officers this past December.

On Monday, December 9, 2024, 43-year-old Robert Brooks was transferred from the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, to the Marcy Correctional Facility just 11 miles away. Upon his arrival at Marcy Correctional Facility, Brooks was allegedly beaten to death by several New York State Correctional Officers.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whose office released the video footage of the beating and its aftermath, has been investigating the circumstances that led to the beating and the steps taken afterward.

Ten New York State Correction Officers Indicted In Beating Death Of Robert Brooks

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, state indictments against some of the Correctional Officers who were involved in the incident were unsealed, and the details were released. The indictments will result in charges against at least 10 officers:

Nicholas J. Kieffer:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
- Gang Assault 2nd degree,
- Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.
Nicholas J. Anzalone:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
- Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1st degree.
David J. Kingsley II:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
Anthony R. Farina:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
Christopher Walrath:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
Mathew J. Galliher:
- Murder 2nd degree,
- Manslaughter 1st degree,
- Gang Assault 2nd degree,
Michael Mashaw:
- Manslaughter 2nd degree,
Michael D. Fisher:
- Manslaughter 2nd degree,
David K. Walters:
- Manslaughter 2nd degree,
Nicholas J. Gentile:
- Tampering with Physical Evidence,

According to the New York State Police, the investigation into Brooks's killing is still ongoing, and at least 17 New York State Corrections employees have been identified to have had a role in this incident, so more charges and indictments may still be pending.

The most serious of these charges, Second Degree Murder, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, while the least serious of the charges, Tampering with Physical Evidence, has a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison.