Former Green Haven CO Accused Of Striking Restrained Inmate

HYDE PARK, NY — A former Hudson Valley correction officer was accused of using excessive force against a prison inmate.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Thursday a federal indictment was unsealed charging former correction officer Aaron Finn, 35, of Hyde Park, with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate in the custody of the New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision.

Prosecutors said Finn willfully used excessive force "amounting to cruel and unusual punishment" against a restrained inmate by striking and thrashing him, causing him bodily injury and violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Williams said Finn assaulted an inmate he was sworn not only to guard, but to protect.

"The manner in which a country treats its incarcerated is indicative of its values," he said, "and today's indictment underscores that incarceration should not result in undue loss of human dignity. Unfair and illegal abuses to those serving their debt to society cannot and will not be tolerated by this office."

According to the indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court, Finn was employed at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville as a correction officer.

On March 19, 2020, while working at Green Haven, Finn struck an inmate multiple times and thrashed his body and head while he was restrained.

Finn is charged with one count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.