Caleb Blair, a former corrections officer at Mid-State Correctional Facility near Utica, New York, pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday in connection with the fatal beating of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi.
Blair was originally charged with second-degree murder following Nantwi’s death on March 1, 2025, but under the plea deal, he agreed to serve 11 years in prison.
Nantwi, who was serving a five-year sentence for exchanging gunfire with police, died from massive head trauma and other injuries after being beaten by several guards.
Prosecutors said Blair was one of two officers responsible for inflicting the fatal head wounds. The beating occurred after Nantwi resisted being handcuffed during a prisoner headcount.
Details of the Beating
Nantwi suffered 69 separate body blows from corrections officers, who used their fists, boots, and batons during the violent assault.
The beating was triggered when Nantwi objected to being handcuffed while resisting the headcount. This led to a series of brutal attacks, which resulted in his death.
Plea Deal and Legal Response
Blair entered his guilty plea just before jury selection was set to begin for his trial in Oneida County Court in Utica. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who prosecuted the case, stated that Nantwi’s family was satisfied with the plea deal.
He also emphasized the need for systemic changes in the prison system to address the issue of violence against inmates.
“I’m satisfied that justice was done,” Fitzpatrick said. “There has to be systemic changes in the facilities regarding relationships between (corrections officers) and incarcerated individuals, and I hope that people just don’t turn the page.”
Blair’s attorney, William Sullivan, expressed that his client accepted responsibility for his actions. He described Blair as a model corrections officer with a history of service in the National Guard.
Sullivan acknowledged the tragic nature of the incident, stating, “It was a terrible combination of eight minutes, six minutes, in that cell that ruined an otherwise exemplary life.”
Reactions from Nantwi’s Family
Lawyers representing Nantwi’s family, Earl Ward and Katie Rosenfeld, emphasized the need for accountability and systemic reform. “Most of the defendants here are going to jail,” they said in a statement, “and hopefully the impact of that will resonate throughout the state prisons, which for far too long have tolerated and turned a blind eye to violence against inmates.”
Other Defendants and Sentencing
In addition to Blair, another former officer, Jonah Levi, who also allegedly inflicted head wounds on Nantwi, was found guilty of manslaughter and other crimes by a jury last month. He is awaiting sentencing.
A third officer, Craig Klemick, pleaded guilty to offering a false instrument for filing after lying about the incident in his report. Several other officers have also pleaded guilty, and only one case remains to be tried.
The Wildcat Strike and Broader Context
The incident took place during a wildcat strike by many corrections officers at Mid-State Correctional Facility, which led the governor to deploy National Guard members to maintain order.
Nantwi’s death followed the fatal beating of Robert Brooks at a different prison across the road from Mid-State just months earlier.
Blair’s guilty plea marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal process surrounding the fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi.
As the remaining cases are resolved, the impact of these actions is expected to resonate throughout the state prison system.
Advocates continue to call for broader reforms to ensure accountability for corrections officers and address systemic violence against incarcerated individuals.
