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July 2, 2009

Prison time extended for inmate involved in brawl

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

PLATTSBURGH — A convicted robber will serve more time behind bars for his role in a massive prison brawl that left five officers injured last July.

The fight inside Clinton Correctional Facility’s north yard left the officers and more than a dozen inmates injured and resulted in criminal charges against three inmates.

Wilfredo Ruiz was the first to be formally charged for participating in the violent scuffle that led to a temporary lockdown at the maximum-security facility.

Recently, the 41-year-old returned to Clinton County Court and pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempted second-degree assault.

That plea netted him an extra 11⁄2 to three years in prison on top of the 24-years-to-life sentence he’s already serving for robbery and assault.

Ruiz, who is now being housed at Upstate Correctional Facility, was sentenced as a second-felony offender and must also pay a court surcharge.

Similar criminal cases against two other inmates are still pending, while some prisoners faced in-house consequences.

The fight left officers with a range of injuries, including stab wounds and abrasions.

It also led to the recent statewide recognition of veteran officer Jay Siskavich. He was awarded a Department of Corrections Medal of Merits for tackling one of the shank-wielding inmates and helping to take him into custody, despite being stabbed during the ordeal.

Officials say his heroic actions likely kept fellow officers from serious injury and potentially saved the life of an inmate.



E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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