Auburn, NY (WHCU) – District Attorney Budelmann announced that his Office secured a life sentence involved in the July 2017 homicide of a fellow inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility. Rupert Alberga and Ashton Bellamy attacked the inmate victim in his cell on July 9, 2017. The victim died from his injuries at Auburn Community Hospital on July 14, 2017.
Bellamy entered the victim’s cell first and incapacitated the victim by punching him twice in the head. Alberga then entered the cell beat and kicked the victim repeatedly about the head. Bellamy closed the cell door behind them to trap the victim and prevent anyone from aiding him. The victim was transported to the hospital after the attack and subsequently died due to complications of the injuries.
Bellamy was indicted for Manslaughter in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree. On February 27, 2019, Bellamy pled guilty to Assault Second to satisfy the indictment. Today, the Cayuga County Court sentenced him to a term of 12 years to life.
By law, this sentence will be consecutive to the eight-year sentence Bellamy is currently serving for a conviction of Assault First out of Nassau County. Due to the new sentence, Bellamy (DOB 3/29/86) will not even be eligible for parole until at least 2035.
DA Budelmann commented: “Bellamy admitted to the police that he intended to injure the victim. He initiated the attack and thereby helped Alberga cause the victim’s death. The life sentence appropriately holds Bellamy accountable for his violent actions and will protect society in the long term from this dangerous individual.”
Alberga was indicted for two counts of Murder in the First Degree. On May 23, 2019, he pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree to satisfy the indictment. On July 25, 2019, he will return to court to be sentenced to a term of 15 years to life.
By law, this sentence will be consecutive to the sentence of 24 years to life he is currently serving for a Murder Second conviction out of Albany County. Due to the new sentence, Alberga (DOB 12/11/81) will not even be eligible for parole until at least 2050.
