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In Utica, New York, two former officers from the Marcy Correctional Facility have decided to reject plea offers related to the death of inmate Robert Brooks. The officers, Matthew Galliher and Nicholas Anzalone, are among 10 former corrections officers accused in the case. They face serious charges, including second-degree murder, and have chosen to take their chances with a jury trial rather than accept plea deals.
Galliher and Anzalone were offered deals that would have resulted in significant prison time. Anzalone was offered 18 years to life for a guilty plea to second-degree murder, while Galliher was offered 12 years in prison for a guilty plea to second-degree gang assault. Both now face potential sentences of 25 years to life if convicted at trial. The charges stem from a violent incident caught on body-worn cameras on December 9, 2024, which showed the officers beating Brooks while he was restrained. Brooks died the following day at a hospital in Utica.
According to Spectrum News, eight officers in total have rejected plea deals, while two others have pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Christopher Walrath pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and faces 15 years in prison. Nicholas Gentile pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence and received a one-year conditional discharge.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. The officers who rejected plea deals are set to return to Oneida County Court for pre-trial hearings in early June. The Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick, has highlighted the incident as part of a larger systemic issue within correctional facilities.