UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — A former New York state prison guard was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty of murder for brutally beating an inmate whose actions were captured on video.
David Kingsley was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for manslaughter in the case. He is the only former guard to be convicted of murder in the death of Robert Brooks, who was beaten by guards at Massey Correctional Facility on the night of December 9, 2024. Five other guards accused of killing the 43-year-old black man have pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Video footage of a handcuffed Brooks being beaten and trampled by guards sparked widespread shock and calls for reform in New York prisons.
A grand jury indicted six guards earlier this year after special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County District Attorney, filed murder charges and charged four others with lesser crimes. The three defendants charged with murder later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
Prosecutors said Kingsley deserved the maximum sentence because he refused to accept responsibility for his actions and put Brooks’ family through the trauma of a trial. Before sentencing, Kingsley spoke in court and apologized to Brooks’ relatives for his role in the “stupid” actions that led to Brooks’ death.
Robert Brooks Jr., the victim’s son, said he hopes the case will prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Jared Ricks, Brooks’ brother, added that while forgiveness still has a long way to go, justice is a step toward that path.
Kingsley, 45, was one of three guards to go before a jury in October on charges of murder and first-degree manslaughter. He was the only one of the three to be found guilty. Body camera footage played at the trial showed him grabbing Brooks by the neck and lifting him up as multiple guards surrounded the handcuffed man.
The defendant is ultimately scheduled to go on trial on January 12 for second-degree manslaughter. Another guard who was released this month tried to withdraw his guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter.
Fitzpatrick became the special prosecutor after state Attorney General Letitia James recused herself, citing her office’s representation of several police officers in separate lawsuits. He is also suing the guards who beat Messiah Nantwi to death on March 1 at Mid-State Correctional Facility, a nearby prison. Ten guards were charged in April over Nantwi’s death, two of whom were charged with murder.
The prisons are located about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York City.
