Inmate denies assault of three prison guards

CANTON — A convicted murderer denied allegations Tuesday in St. Lawrence County Court that he assaulted three corrections officers.

Jose Santos, 33, pleaded innocent before Judge Jerome J. Richards to three felony counts of second-degree assault in an unsealed indictment. He was accused of assaulting corrections officers Paul Trombley, John R. Marnell and Lee LaRock on May 10 at Gouverneur Correctional Facility.

Prosecutors said that in two skirmishes that day, including one in the infirmary at the medium-security prison, a corrections officer suffered a broken hand. A second guard was punched in the face, while a third suffered several cuts on his legs and arms while trying to subdue Santos.

Santos, formerly of Jackson Heights, was convicted June 17, 1996, in Queens County Supreme Court of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to serve 15 years to life in prison, court records show.

He since has been transferred from Gouverneur Correctional to Southport Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison, in Pine City, Chemung County. He was denied parole for the first time last month, according to state Division of Parole records.

Judge Richards assigned defense attorney Brian D. Pilatzke to represent Santos.