Rikers Captain, Officer Charged With Beating Inmate In Supply Closet
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A jail captain and correction officer at Rikers Island have been charged with assault and other crimes, in the beating of a mentally challenged 18-year-old inmate.
Capt. Medzid Kolenovic and Officer Jean Destine pleaded not guilty Friday to misdemeanor assault and to felony charges that they altered use-of-force documents.
Prosecutors claimed Kolenovic and Destine beat the inmate, Ambirorix Celedonio, in a supply closet after an argument. The defendants were also accused of claiming workers' compensation after the Dec. 9 beating.
Officials said the two guards have been put on modified duty.
Celedonio's attorney said he has an IQ of 65. He was being held on a gang assault charge, but he was no longer in custody as of Friday and his case has been sealed.
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