Overview

• Christopher Walrath, one of six officers charged in the December 2024 beating of Robert Brooks, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Oneida County Court.
• Walrath admitted to placing Brooks in a chokehold against departmental policy and acknowledged that repeated assaults caused the inmate's death.
• The plea deal includes a 15-year prison sentence, with formal sentencing scheduled for August 4; Walrath remains free on bond under court conditions.
• Bodycam footage shows officers punching, kicking, and lifting Brooks by the neck while he was handcuffed, actions Governor Hochul condemned as a 'brutal attack.'
• Three other employees face manslaughter or evidence-tampering charges, while broader investigations into systemic practices in New York prisons continue.