PRISON INMATE CONVICTED OF ASSAULT FOR THROWING PUNCHES
THAT LEFT FELLOW INMATE BRAIN DEAD

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announce today that a 29 year old convict has
been found guilty of assaulting a fellow inmate who was left brain dead after the altercation in a
holding pen at Bronx Criminal Court.

A jury convicted Kenny Taylor of Assault in the 2nd degree in causing the injury that
ultimately resulted in the death of Ronald Fesce, 54. Taylor is to be sentenced by Acting State
Supreme Court Justice Michael Gross on Monday, December 11, 2006 in Part T-11. Assault in
the 2nd degree is a Class B felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 7 years
imprisonment. The judge could order that the sentence run consecutive to the 6 to 12 year term
that Taylor already is serving following earlier convictions for attempted robbery and criminal
sale of a controlled substance. If that happens, Taylor’s sentence for this assault conviction
would not begin until the completion of the six to a 12-year prison term. Although Taylor was
responsible for the assault there was no evidence that the defendant had intended to cause Fesce’s
death.

The incident occurred on October 12, 2004 around eight o’clock in the morning at 215
East 161st Street. The two men were in a holding cell at Bronx Criminal Court arguing about
legal advice when the dispute escalated. Taylor began punching Fesce in the face and upper body
causing him to fall to the ground. During the fall, the victim’s head struck a steel bench.
However, the seriousness of the injury was not apparent until two days later on October 14th
when Fesce lapsed into a coma and was hospitalized because of internal bleeding. Despite
undergoing surgery in an effort to repair the damage, Fesce was declared ‘brain dead’ and
removed from life support on October 17, 2004.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys James Goward and Omer
Wiczyk of the Rackets Bureau.