By JOSEPH DE LA CRUZ
A Rikers inmate was sentenced to eight years in prison on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to gang assault in the first degree that led to the death of a young teen in Queens five years ago.
Nolis Ogando was brought in to the Queens courtroom in prison attire and given an opportunity to say something to the family before the sentence was handed down.
“I want to give my condolences to the family,” Ogando said. “I know I pled guilty but I really didn’t do anything.”
Judge Joseph Zayas immediately interrupted Ogando to explain that he had pleaded guilty to the assault, which indicated his involvement in the death of the victim, Anthony Collao
“I’m sorry, I did participate,” Ogando said, after briefly conferring with his attorney. “I look in to the mirror every night and I see him. I made a mistake.”
Ogando was among a group of six teenagers accused of chasing and beating Collao into a coma in 2011 in what was then considered an anti-gay hate crime. Collao’s family later decided to take him off life support two days later.
The family of the victim, Anthony Collao, was visibly upset. His mother and sisters could be heard sobbing throughout the sentencing.
Ogando had pleaded guilty to the charge just one day before the case was supposed to head to trial. He had been incarcerated on Rikers Island since he was arrested in 2011.
He was convicted as a youth offender because he committed the crime when he was 16 years old.
The gang of teens were heard shouting slurs at Callao, mistaking him for being gay, after they seen him leaving a party hosted by two gay men. They beat the victim with a cane and a pipe after kicking him and punching him.
One of the attackers also has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is expected to face 18 years in prison next week.
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