A former New York prison guard has entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge after being accused of standing by while fellow officers fatally beat an inmate. The case, which has sparked significant outcry, concluded with a surprise plea deal after a jury deadlocked on a more serious manslaughter charge.
The Fatal Incident and Trial Outcome
Michael Fisher, a former correctional officer, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment on Friday, 16 January 2026. This plea came as jurors deliberating a second-degree manslaughter charge against him reported they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The manslaughter charge could have carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
Fisher was one of ten guards charged in February in connection with the death of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old Black inmate. The brutal assault occurred on the night of 9 December 2024, immediately after Brooks arrived at the Marcy Correctional Facility. The entire incident was recorded on the officers' body-worn cameras.
Details of the Plea Agreement and Sentencing
As part of the plea agreement, Fisher is expected to be sentenced on 30 January to six months in a county jail. However, reports from local media indicate this sentence will be deferred while Fisher appeals the prosecution's theory of his criminal liability.
Fisher's defence attorney, Scott Iseman, told Spectrum News the resolution provided certainty for his client and family. "I can’t tell you the amount of stress someone goes through when they’re facing five to 15 years in state prison," Iseman stated.
Broader Case and Calls for Reform
The guilty plea brings a close to Fisher's week-long trial, but the wider case involves multiple officers. Of the ten guards originally indicted:
- Seven have now pleaded guilty to manslaughter or lesser charges.
- One was convicted of murder.
- Two were acquitted in a trial last autumn.
- Three more have agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors.
During the trial, special prosecutor William Fitzpatrick argued that Fisher failed to act for "seven gut-churning, nauseating, disgusting minutes" as other guards beat Brooks in a prison infirmary room. The defence contended that Fisher entered the room after the beating began and could not have known the severity of Brooks's injuries, arguing the prosecution failed to prove his actions directly caused the death.
The graphic nature of the body camera footage has prompted renewed and intense calls for comprehensive reform within the New York prison system.
