Fort Dix Inmate Pleads Guilty in Death of Another Inmate
Pushed Victim Down Flight of Stairs During Argument
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 03, 2012 |
CAMDEN, NJ—A Connecticut man serving a prison sentence at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution today admitted pushing a fellow inmate to his death during an argument, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
David Besaw, 27, of Newington, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of voluntary manslaughter in the November 4, 2010 death of an inmate identified only as “F.F.” Besaw’s plea was entered before District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Besaw said he was sleeping when F.F. punched the back of his bunk. The two men had an argument, after which F.F. left their cell. Besaw followed F.F. into a nearby stairwell, saw F.F. standing at the top of the stairwell, and deliberately pushed him from behind, causing him to fall down the stairs. F.F. died as a result of the injuries he suffered in the fall.
The charge to which Besaw pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for August 9, 2012.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the warden of Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution, Donna Zickefoose; and special agents and investigators of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.