Utica, N.Y. – In a case that has sent shockwaves through New York’s prison system, nine correctional officers from Marcy Correctional Facility are facing murder and manslaughter charges following the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks in December 2024.
Brooks, 43, was reportedly attacked by multiple officers shortly after arriving at the prison on December 9. He was viciously punched and kicked in the groin, abdomen, and face while in the prison infirmary. Body camera footage, though not intentionally activated, captured parts of the brutal assault. Brooks succumbed to his injuries six hours later in a Utica hospital.
The officers charged in connection to his death include Nicholas Anazalone, Anthony Farina, Mathew Galliher, Christopher Walrath, and David Kingsley II, all facing second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges. Others, including Michael Fisher, David Walters, and Sgt. Michael Mashaw, face second-degree manslaughter charges. Nicholas Gentile has been charged with tampering with evidence. All have pleaded not guilty and will return to court on March 31.
Judge Robert Bauer set bail amounts ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 cash, with bond options up to $1 million for some defendants.
The attack has drawn widespread outrage, with over a hundred people attending the arraignment, many chanting “Justice for Robert Brooks.” Tensions ran high in the courtroom and overflow rooms, where tempers flared among those watching the proceedings.
Brooks’ family, including his son Robert Jr., has called for justice, stating, “These men killed my father on camera. The world saw it.” A federal lawsuit filed by the family alleges systemic brutality within New York’s prison system.
Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the attack as “sickening” and has since implemented reforms, including new security measures and the termination of state employees involved in the incident.
The Marcy facility has faced prior allegations of abuse, with an independent watchdog reporting a “culture of fear and retaliation.” This case is now the latest, and most horrific, example of the violence behind its walls.
