Officials: New Hampshire trooper to plead guilty in beating

CONCORD, N.H. – A state trooper involved in the videotaped beating of a man after a 50-mile car chase through Massachusetts and New Hampshire is expected to plead guilty to several charges related to the incident, New Hampshire’s attorney general’s office said Tuesday.

Andrew Monaco, 31, of the New Hampshire State Police, was arrested in July along with Joseph Flynn, 32, of the Massachusetts State Police, on charges stemming from their use of force in the arrest of Richard Simone Jr. on May 11.

Video caught by a TV news helicopter appears to show Simone surrendering and officers then punching him repeatedly.

The office of New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster says Monaco is expected to plead guilty Thursday to three counts of simple assault. The charge is a misdemeanour and carries up to a year in jail. Flynn faces two counts of simple assault.

Under New Hampshire law, because Monaco was an on-duty law enforcement officer at the time, each charge is subject to an enhanced penalty of up to five years, the attorney general said.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Flynn on Oct. 13, Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan G. Morrell told The Boston Globe.

Monaco’s attorney, Eric Wilson, couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Flynn’s attorney, Ronald J. Caron, told The Boston Globe on Wednesday that his client “committed no criminal act.” ”There’s no question about that,” he said.

Authorities say Simone refused to stop for police in Holden, Massachusetts, leading them on an hour-long chase with speeds up to 100 mph that ended in Nashua.

Video shows Simone stepping out of his pickup truck, kneeling and placing his hands on the ground as Monaco begins punching Simone on the left side of his head, according to complaints filed against the troopers. Monaco and Flynn then punch Simone repeatedly while he is prone on the ground. Monaco then strikes Simone with his knee multiple times.

Simone later told investigators he was punched, kicked and “kneed” by both troopers and was repeatedly told to “stop resisting” although his arms were behind his back while the attack continued, according to the complaints. Simone told investigators he received three stitches in his ear. Medical records indicate he was diagnosed with possible post-concussive syndrome following the beating.

Simone, who was wanted on multiple warrants, was sent back to jail after being arraigned in Worcester, Massachusetts, on charges including larceny, failure to stop for police and assault with a dangerous weapon.

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