Charges increased for ex-Rikers guard accused in inmate's death

A former Rikers Island corrections officer was charged Tuesday with the beating death of Ronald Spear, an inmate who died in custody.

Brian Coll was previously charged with violating Spear’s civil rights in the Dec. 19, 2012 incident. Spear, who had health problems, was awaiting trial on a burglary charge at the time of his death.

The new charge, announced by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the Daily News. Coll had faced up to 75 years in prison, reported Newsday.

Spear was held face-down on the jail's floor in view of fellow inmates shouting, "They're kicking him!" and "They're killing him!" according to the criminal complaint written by FBI Agent Vanessa M. Tibbits.

An autopsy found three contusions on Spear’s skull, including a “brain bleed.” The cause of death was “hypertensive cardiovascular disease” with “physical altercation including blunt force trauma to head” and diabetes as contributing factors.

An investigation of Spear’s death revealed how Coll and another guard, Byron Taylor allegedly worked together to thwart investigators as they tried to learn how the 52-year-old Spear was killed, according to a description of the case in a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan federal court.

In June, Coll, 45, was charged with depriving Spear of his rights, obstruction of justice, filing a false report and conspiracy while Taylor, 31, was charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Authorities say Taylor helped restrain Spear and then lied about his role.  A third officer, Anthony Torres, 59, pled guilty to filing a false report and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the case. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

The city reached a $2.75 million settlement with Spear’s family.

New York's 11,000 daily inmate jail system has come under increased scrutiny after the deaths of two seriously mentally ill inmates at Rikers Island, among other problems.

Al Jazeera with wire services