UTICA, N.Y. — A former prison guard in Oneida County was sentenced to prison Friday morning for his involvement in the death of inmate and Greece native Robert Brooks.
News10NBC’s affiliate in Syracuse reports David Kingsley got the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Kingsley was found guilty by trial of both second-degree murder and manslaughter on Oct. 20 in relation to Brooks’ death.
READ MORE: One former prison guard found guilty of murder, two acquitted, in Robert Brooks’ death
Brooks’ son, Robert Brooks Jr., spoke at Kingsley’s sentencing Friday. He told Kingsley he hoped the court showed him no mercy when it came to his sentencing.
“Watching your actions on camera felt like I was stuck in a horror movie and you guys were the monster,” said Brooks Jr. “I felt broken and there was nothing I could do. I will never get my dad back, but I do pray that your loved ones never have to endure the kind of pain that I experienced.”
Our affiliate in Utica says that Kingsley was expressionless as he listened to a victim impact statement from Brooks Jr., and looked at the ground while apologizing to the Brooks family.
“I know nothing I say or do can ever change that outcome, I understand that. All of the events over the last three days of Mr. Brooks’ life should never have happened,” Kingsley said in court. “Every single event was senseless, nonetheless, I would like to offer my heartfelt apology to the Brooks family.”
Bodycam video showed several corrections officers beating Brooks, an inmate, in a medical exam room in December at Marcy Correctional Facility. He died in the hospital the next day.
In total, ten guards were indicted related to Brooks’ death. On Nov. 21, four of them were sentenced to prison for their involvement in his death.
READ MORE: Four former prison guards sentenced to prison Friday for death of Robert Brooks
Two other guards, Nicholas Kieffer and Matthew Galliher, were acquitted of all charges in Brooks’ death.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence at Marcy for assault after he was convicted of stabbing his girlfriend.
Since Brooks’ death, his family has called for prison reform, including asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a prison reform bill.
READ MORE: ‘A cry out for justice’: Advocates rally for prison reform on anniversary of Robert Brooks’ death (Dec. 9)
On the one year mark of Brooks’ death, advocates in Rochester boarded a bus to Albany pushing for Hochul to sign the bill.
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