A former prison guard in upstate New York pleaded guilty on Friday to his role in what prosecutors described as a cover-up of an inmate’s brutal death by fellow guards.
Joshua Bartlett pleaded guilty to obstructing prosecution and falsifying records, both felonies, in connection with Messiah Nantwi’s March 1 death at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, near Utica. Bartlett appeared for a hearing in Oneida County Court in Utica, and his sentencing date was set for August 8.
Ten correction officers, except Bartlett, were charged in connection with the fatal beating. Two of the ten, Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair, have been charged with second-degree murder. All ten have pled not guilty. Bartlett is the first guard to plead guilty in relation to the case.
According to the indictment, Nantwi died as a result of injuries acquired during a series of beatings by guards that began in his chamber and lasted even while he lay chained on the floor of the infirmary.
Bartlett was accused of assisting other guards in covering up what occurred, including filing a fake use-of-force report.
According to prosecutors, Bartlett was beaten after an emergency response team was summoned to Nantwi’s room to assist National Guard personnel who got worried after he interfered with another inmate’s attempt to receive medication and resisted a headcount. The National Guard was deployed to Mid-State and other prisons following an unofficial three-week walkout by guards who were dissatisfied with their working conditions.
When the reaction crew came, the incident was already settled. Nantwi refused to being handcuffed for no apparent reason and grabbed Bartlett’s vest, prompting multiple guards to strike his head and torso with fists, batons, and boots, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said Nantwi exacerbated the attack by biting the hands of two guards.
Nantwi fell unresponsive, and guards took him to the infirmary, but he was assaulted again in a stairway, according to prosecutors.
Nantwi died many months after Robert Brooks was fatally beaten at the Marcy Correctional Facility, which is near the Mid-State Prison. Six guards were charged with second-degree murder following Brooks’ beating on December 9. One of the guards pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter earlier this month as part of a plea agreement.
Three other prison staff were charged with manslaughter in the Brooks case, while another officer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted tampering with physical evidence.
Bartlett was one of 18 guards, including the ten indicted, who resigned or were suspended following Nantwi’s killing. Prosecutors say that several guards who were not prosecuted volunteered to help with investigators.