Correction Officer, Terrence Pendergrass, Convicted In Rikers Island Inmate's 2012 Death
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A New York City jail correction officer has been convicted of a civil rights charge after a jury concluded he ignored the pleas of a dying Rikers Island inmate who had swallowed a toxic soap ball.
Terrence Pendergrass shook his head repeatedly as the verdict was announced Wednesday in Manhattan federal court.
Correction Officer, Terrence Pendergrass, Convicted In Rikers Island Inmate's 2012 Death
The 50-year-old correction officer faces up to 10 years in prison at a sentencing proceeding Judge Ronnie Abrams set for April 17.
As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, the jury accepted testimony of other correction officeres who said they had alerted the captain to the inmate's suffering, but that he refused to call for medical help and stopped them from picking up the phone themselves.
The most damning, Cornell reported, was the testimony of one officer who was fired for his own misconduct in the case. He told the jury Pendergrass had told him "don't bother me unless someone is dead."
Pendergrass was charged in the death of 25-year-old Jason Echevarria, who had bipolar disorder and was held on a burglary charge.
The man was left for hours unattended and was discovered dead the next day.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said the conviction and "systemic, institution-wide reforms" his office is pursuing should prevent similar deaths in the future.
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