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Two Mid-State Correctional Facility officers, Francis Chandler and David Ferrone, are set to appear in court on Friday (August 15) in Utica. They face multiple charges for their alleged involvement in the beating death of inmate Messiah Nantwi on March 1. Chandler's charges include second-degree manslaughter, second-degree gang assault, and first-degree tampering with physical evidence.
The case has drawn significant attention following a federal civil rights lawsuit filed on June 17, accusing a group of New York State corrections officers of fatally beating Nantwi while he was handcuffed. According to Yahoo News, the lawsuit claims that officers conspired to cover up the incident by planting a makeshift knife in Nantwi's cell and falsifying records. The lawsuit also names Mid-State Superintendent Bryan Hilton and 20 other Corrections Department employees as defendants.
The legal action seeks compensatory and punitive damages for alleged constitutional rights violations, citing a pattern of violence and cover-ups in New York's prisons. Nantwi's father, Patterson Nantwi, expressed his desire for justice, stating, "I want justice for Messiah by holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that no other family suffers this kind of tragedy."
The lawsuit and criminal case highlight ongoing concerns about the treatment of incarcerated individuals and the need for reform within the prison system.