A routine shift at the Rockland County jail allegedly turned ugly when a corrections officer slipped a pill into a coworker's coffee, an act prosecutors say has now landed him under felony indictment. The incident reportedly took place on Feb. 17, and a county grand jury handed up an indictment in late May.
The Rockland County District Attorney's Office says 63-year-old Russell Thorne of Greenwood Lake has been indicted on several counts, including attempted assault in the second and third degrees and official misconduct. He is also charged with promoting prison contraband in the second degree, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and criminal tampering in the third degree, according to the Rockland County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors' account of the incident
According to prosecutors, the episode unfolded on Feb. 17 inside the Rockland County Correctional Center in New City, where the alleged victim, also a corrections officer, had briefly stepped away from her coffee. While she was gone, Thorne allegedly walked up to the unattended cup, dropped a small object into it and then left the room. When the officer returned and took a sip, she reportedly felt something hard in her mouth, spat it out and found a tablet that lab testing later identified as a laxative, according to Daily Voice.
Arrest and the legal process
Local authorities first went public with Thorne's arrest in March. He was arrested and arraigned on March 6 and was scheduled to return to court later that month, according to Rockland County Times. A Rockland County grand jury later returned the felony indictment during its fifth grand jury term, which wrapped up on May 27, according to the Rockland County District Attorney's Office.
Legal implications
The indictment includes violent-offense charges alongside counts tied to official misconduct and prison contraband, all of which could bring serious penalties if a jury finds Thorne guilty. An indictment is a formal accusation, not proof of guilt, and Thorne is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors convince a Rockland County Court jury of each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and is being handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin DeLuca. Thorne appeared before Rockland County Court Judge David Ascher and was released on his own recognizance after arraignment, according to Daily Voice.
The matter remains active in court, with future appearances to be posted in public records as they are set. Officials from the sheriff's office and the district attorney's office have not offered additional comment beyond what is contained in their public filings.
