TRENTON — Two veteran corrections officers have been charged in connection with the beating of an inmate at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, the Mercer County prosecutor announced today. Authorities said Sgt. Kevin Newsom, 45, of Ewing hit the handcuffed inmate in the head several times with a metal baton on July 13. Afterward, he allegedly instructed his...
View of the exterior of New Jersey State Prison along 2nd St.TRENTON — Two veteran corrections officers have been charged in connection with the beating of an inmate at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, the Mercer County prosecutor announced today.
Authorities said Sgt. Kevin Newsom, 45, of Ewing hit the handcuffed inmate in the head several times with a metal baton on July 13. Afterward, he allegedly instructed his subordinates to whitewash the incident in their reports.
Another officer, Lt. Stephen Alaimo, 41, of Cliffwood, did not report the assault, authorities said.
Newsom, an officer for 23 years, was charged with aggravated assault and official misconduct on Oct. 29, and he is free on $50,000 bail. He has been suspended without pay as the state Department of Corrections moves to fire him, spokesman Matt Schuman said.
Alaimo, a 20-year veteran, was charged today with official misconduct. He is suspended with pay pending an internal hearing.
Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, declined to comment further on the investigation. Jim McGonigal, president of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, which represents Corrections sergeants, said Newsom will be exonerated in court.
"The prison is a very violent, fluid and dynamic place, and split-second decisions have to be made," he said. "It’s easy for people three and a half months after an incident to Monday-morning quarterback."
More details on the inmate, Bradley Peterson, were not available today.