POUGHKEEPSIE – Laquann Crimm, a 31-year-old convicted felon was found not guilty of assaulting a corrections officer during an incident at Green Haven Correctional Facility on January 9, 2021. The jurors heard summations on Thursday morning and deliberated for less than an hour before returning to Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin’s court with the verdict.
Crimm was charged with two counts of assault after officers said he punched one of the officers in the face, causing serious injury to the officer, Jason Alvarez, who was trying to break up a fight. At the time, the New York State Corrections officers union said two officers were transported to the hospital after the assault.
The fight, according to the officers was between inmate Crimm and inmate Jeffrey Rozales. An officer testified that she witnessed Crimm stabbing Rozales and summoned for help. Crimm was never charged with the stabbing of Rozales. The defense team noted early in the trial that inmate Rozales would be testifying and naming the inmate that actually stabbed him; inmate DiStefano. DiStefano is a white inmate and bears no resemblance to Crimm, who is African-American.
Crimm was defended by Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office Bureau Chief Kara Gerry and Assistant Public Defender Brad White. Throughout the week-long trial, Gerry poked holes in the prosecution witnesses, who were all officers involved in the incident. During her summation, Gerry pointed out the inconsistencies in the accounts offered by the officers. “The corrections officers’ stories do not add up,” Gerry told the jury while claiming that the involved officers were part of a “cover-up”. Alvarez, an officer for 11 years, had faced disciplinary actions in the past, including a charge of using excessive force. The officer sustained a bone bruise on his wrist during the scuffle with Crimm and was out on medical leave for 122 days. “That’s more time than most women get for maternity leave,” the defense attorney exclaimed.
Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Lily Gebru attempted to discredit the defense witnesses during her summation. The inmates who were at Green Haven when the fight took place testified that the officer initiated the attack on inmate Crimm. “I implore you to consider the credibility of the witnesses.” The three inmates testifying on behalf of Crimm included a murderer, a child rapist, and a robber. They have since been moved to different prisons in the state.
“We are gratified that the jury listened to all of the evidence, kept an open mind, and found that no one is above the law,” Gerry told Mid-Hudson News on Thursday afternoon.
