Acting Prosecutor Robert Laurino announced today that six Essex County Correction’s Officers have been charged with assault on three different prisoners, between April and September of this year at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. Some of the officers were charged with assaulting more than one victim. This was a joint investigation by the Essex County Corrections Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Acting Prosecutor Laurino said the first alleged assault occurred on April 27, 2010 at the Correctional Facility. Correction Officers William Rupp and Richard Amorosi allegedly committed an assault upon Kirtrel Gadson while he was in custody. Mr.Gadson refused medical treatment although his injuries were documented. The officers were also charged with falsifying reports about what had occurred.
The second alleged assault occurred on May 20, 2010, when Correction Sergeant John Conway and Officers Mark Horst, William Rupp, Krzysztof Golas and Richard Amorosi allegedly assaulted James Craft while in custody. Mr. Craft was treated at University Hospital in Newark for injuries that he sustained during the assault.
The third alleged assault occurred on September 3, 2010. Officer Dennis Phelps and Sergeant John Conway allegedly assaulted Brian Guarino while in custody. Mr. Guarino was treated at University Hospital for injuries he sustained in the assault. The officers were also charged with falsifying documents.
The officers involved were Sergeant John Conway, 33, an eleven year veteran; Officer Dennis Phelps, 35, a five year veteran; Officer Mark Horst, 29, a three year veteran; Officer Krzysztof Golas, 36, a rookie who had just completed his Academy training at the time of the assault; Officer Richard Amorosi, 25; and Officer William Rupp, 31, a six year veteran. Officer Rupp has been on suspension since being arrested for non-related charges by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in July, during Operation Jail Breach. He was additionally charged today.
According to Assistant Prosecutor David Soffer of the Professional Standards Unit, the officers were charged with the following:
Sergeant John Conway, three counts of third-degree assault and one count of third-degree false reporting;
Officer William Rupp, three counts of third-degree assault and one count of third-degree false reporting;
Officer Richard Amorosi, one count of third-degree assault, one count of third-degree false reporting, and one count of assault disorderly persons (this charge is different due to the nature of the assault) ;
Officer Dennis Phelps, one count of assault disorderly persons and one count of third-degree false reporting;
Officer Mark Horst, one count of third-degree assault and one count of assault disorderly persons; and
Officer Krzysztof Golas, one count of third-degree assault.
Assistant Prosecutor Soffer said “the officers, if found guilty, may face 3 to 5 years on each third degree charge; and up to 6 months for disorderly person offenses.”
The officers charged today were given a court date of January 6, 2011 for their arraignment.
These charges are mere accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
