VETERAN NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER GUILTY IN ATTEMPTED COVERUP OF ASSAULT ON AN INMATE AT THE CITY JAIL ON RIKERS ISLAND

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a New York City Correction Officer has been convicted of trying to cover up an assault on a Rikers Island inmate.

Matthew D’Orazio, 35, of Staten Island, pled guilty to one count of Falsifying business records in the first degree, a Class E, felony offense in connection with an assault on an inmate on September 21, 2002.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett set sentencing for January 28, 2004 in Part M60. Under terms of the plea agreement, D’Orazio will be sentenced to five years probation. D’Orazio, a fifteen year veteran of the New York City Department of Correction, resigned prior to his conviction.

The incident occurred in the George Motrin Detention Center on Rikers Island after an inmate became involved in an altercation with another Correction Officer during a routine search. The two became involved in a verbal exchange which resulted in the officer pushing the inmate to the floor. Two Correction Department Captains responded quickly and defused the situation. It wasn’t until after order had been restored that the defendant, Matthew D’Orazio, arrived at the scene and became involved. D’Orazio punched the inmate in the face as he was getting up from the floor. D’Orazio later filed a department "use of force" witness report falsely claiming that he had thrown the punch because a fellow Correction Officer was being attacked. As it turned out, D’Orazio’s account of what had happened was not corroborated by a video tape of the incident that was recorded by a security camera. Ironically, the single punch by the defendant would have resulted only in a misdemeanor charge, while falsifying business records to cover up the incident resulted in a more serious felony charge being filed.

Assistant District Attorney Donald Levin of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case.