New York prison guards say he cleaned up blood from prisoners who were fatally beaten during pleading

Utica, N.Y. (AP) – A New York corrections officer admitted in court Wednesday that he had cleaned up blood for a fatal assault by a prisoner captured in a body camera video in an attempt to cover up the evidence.

Nicholas Gentile pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in the assault on December 9 at Robert Brooks of the Massi Correctional Institution. The publicly released video of the attack, which showed that Brooks beaten up when his hand was sidling, sparking condemnation and calling for reform.

The 36-year-old Gentile was one of 10 guards linked to Brooks' death in February. Six officers were charged with second-degree murder. Gentiles were prosecuted for felony charges of tampering with physical evidence.

Under inquiry by the judge and prosecutor, Gentile admitted that he knew of the attacks of the fellow Guards, cleared Brooks' blood and failed to record them.

Under the plea agreement, the Gentile was sentenced to one-year conditional release, meaning he could avoid jail if he resigned and complied with the law. He also waived his right to appeal.

He refused to make a statement in court.

Christopher Walrath pleaded guilty to first-degree homicide earlier this month after a former official was charged with murder in the attack.

Prosecutors said three other prison staff had reached agreements but had not made those requests.

Brooks began 12 years in prison for the first-degree assault in 2017 and transferred to Marcy, a prison about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York on December 9.

Special Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Brooks was beaten three times that night, the last of which was a fatal attack captured on a body camera. Brooks, 43, was pronounced dead the next day.

Onodaga County District Attorney Fitzpatrick also sued the Guard on March 1 in another Marcy Lockup, Marcy Lockup of the Mid-term Correctional Institute.