Former Marcy CO David Kingsley sentenced for role in beating death of Robert Brooks

Former correction officer David Kingsley was sentenced in Oneida County Court on Friday after being found guilty at trial for his role in the beating death of Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility last year.

Despite the defense's request for leniency, the judge sentenced Kingsley to 25 years-to-life in prison for second-degree murder and 25 years with five years post-release supervision for first-degree manslaughter. The sentences will run concurrently.

Before sentencing, Brooks's son, Robert Brooks Jr., addressed the court. He described how the death of his father and seeing the video of the beating had affected him and his family.

"Watching your actions on camera felt like I was stuck in a horror movie and you guys were the monsters. I felt broken and there was nothing I could do. I can never get my dad back, but I pray your loved ones never endure the kind of pain I experienced," said Brooks Jr.

Brooks' brother, Jared Ricks, also spoke, asking for a sentence appropriate for the crime.

Kingsley was seen on the body-worn camera video holding Brooks by the neck while he was on a gurney. Dr. Yekaterina Merkulova, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Brooks, testified Brooks died in a homicide caused by compression of the neck and multiple blunt impact injuries.

Defense attorney Luke Nebush said Kingsley was the first to do CPR on Brooks when it became clear that he was in need of medical attention. Nebush said that because of this, a sentence of 15 years was appropriate. The judge disagreed.

Kingsley himself gave a brief statement, offering his condolences to the Brooks family and apologizing for his actions. Kingsley said he knows he and the Brooks family will have to live with this tragedy for the rest of their lives.

During the trial, the jury found two other men involved in the incident, Mathew Galliher, who shackled Brooks with leg irons, and Nicholas Kieffer, who pepper-sprayed Brooks, not guilty of murder, manslaughter and second-degree gang assault, and Kieffer not guilty of offering a false instrument for filing.

The defendants had rejected plea deals.