By Steven Cook
The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — A former Schenectady County Jail inmate found to have caused life-altering injuries to a corrections officer in 2014 won’t get a new trial, an appeals court as ruled.
Cory Ford, 33, will continue to serve his 20-year sentence.
Ford was convicted in February 2015 of all counts against him, including first-degree assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer.
The jury found Ford caused serious injury to Corrections Officer Jeffrey Riccio on Feb. 19, 2014, by hitting him with a plastic water jug at the County Jail as Ford fought with officers.
Ford’s appeal centered around the extent of Riccio’s injuries, whether they met the higher requirements of first-degree assault.
The appeals court cited testimony from Riccio, Corrections Officer Anthony Massaro, Riccio’s doctor and others as satisfying the requirements of the higher conviction. Riccio suffered a concussion and lasting effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
The defense offered a different account at trial of how Riccio was injured, arguing that Ford’s actions did not cause the injury. The jury rejected that argument.
Judge James A. Murphy III sentenced Ford to 20 years. Ford faced a possible minimum of 10 and maximum of 30.
The judge cited the substantial impact on Riccio, saying he could not go back to work and it appeared he would never be able to go back to work.
The appeals court found Murphy properly considered the sentencing factors in imposing the lengthy term.
©2017 The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.