2 Hudson Valley Officers Jailed For Brutal Inmate Beating

Two former Hudson Valley officers were sentenced for their roles in the brutal inmate and their attempts to cover it up.

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On Monday in White Plains federal court, Kathy Scott and George Santiago Jr., were sentenced for the Nov. 2013, beating of Kevin Moore, an inmate at the Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill.

“Kathy Scott and George Santiago participated in a vicious beating of inmate Kevin Moore within an inch of his life," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman sais in a press release. "Then they concocted a phony story to hide what they did, repeatedly lying in Department of Correction records and even creating a fake injury. The U.S. Constitution protects all of us, including those in prison. Correction officers who physically abuse inmates and lie about it will be punished as criminals."

Scott was sentenced to 100 months in prison, Santiago Jr., 87 months.

In November 2017, a White Plains jury found both guilty of brutality beating up the 54-year-old inmate and falsifying records to cover up the beating. After the beating, Moore spent two weeks in the hospital with facial bone fractures, five broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

According to the evidence introduced at the trial, on November 12, 2013:

Moore was brought to the 1D Housing Unit at Downstate Correctional Facility to be housed overnight. Moore objected to his cell assignment and a verbal dispute ensued between Moore and a group of correction officers.

After Moore yelled, multiple officers, including Santiago, forced Moore to the floor, held him down and repeatedly punched and kicked Moore in the head and body.

At no time did Moore ever try to attack, touch, or even make a threatening gesture toward any of the officers.

While Moore laid defenseless on the floor, Santiago kicked Moore in the face. He also continued to strike Moore after Moore was handcuffed. During the beating, Santiago laughed and taunted Moore.

Scott of Saugerties, who was then a sergeant and the supervising officer on the scene, was present for the entire beating and did nothing to stop it. Instead, she encouraged it and ordered an officer to hold Moore down on the floor while other officers continued to kick and punch him.

During the beating, Moore repeatedly cried out in pain and begged Scott and the other officers to stop.

After the beating, Scott, Santiago and other officers made up a story that Moore hit an officer, which led to the beating.

To create a phony injury, Santiago hit one of the officers repeatedly on the back with a baton. Scott took photos of the fake injury and filed a use of force report.

Scott and Santiago also repeatedly pressured other officers to lie to investigators about what occurred.

Three other former Downstate correction officers. Andrew Lowery, Donald Cosman and Carson Morris all pleaded guilty to the same offenses.