3 Massachusetts state troopers charged in death of recruit appear in court

Three Massachusetts state troopers appeared in court in Worcester Superior Court Thursday afternoon to face charges in connection with the death of state police recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia.

Lt. Jennifer Penton, who was a sergeant at the time, troopers Edwin Rodriguez and David Montanez were indicted by a grand jury in February and are all charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, and one count of Causing Serious Bodily Injury to a Person Participating in a Training Program Involving Physical Exercise.

Penton is also charged with Perjury after a grand jury found that she lied under oath about when she learned Delgado-Garcia had suffered a possible concussion.

They have all pleaded not guilty. A fourth trooper was also charged in the case.

On September 13, 2024, 25-year-old Enrique Delgado-Garcia died from injuries he sustained while training to become a Massachusetts State Police Trooper. He was repeatedly punched in the head by another recruit during boxing training at the State Police Academy in New Braintree. His autopsy revealed he died of multiple blunt force trauma to the head, and a neck fracture, according to attorneys for his family.

Penton, Rodriguez, and Montanez were all suspended with pay following the indictment.

— Family of Enrique Delgado Garcia demands justice —

“Both in fact, and by law, today, they are all innocent,” said Brian Williams, President of the State Police Union. “And we are confident that their innocence will be upheld at the conclusion of these proceedings.”

Independent Counsel David Meier presented the case to a grand jury after determining Delgado-Garcia suffered concussion-like symptoms after the training. Meier claims the troopers in charge failed to intervene, and Delgado-Garcia took part in a boxing match the next morning and the following day.

“My client, Jennifer Penton, Lt. Penton, is not a criminal,” said Penton’s Attorney Brad Bailey.

“These, as I said in the courtroom, are good people,” said Kevin Reddington, Montanez’s Defense Attorney. “They’re damn good people.”

“This is nothing more than a tragic accident that the special, independent prosecutor should have never brought to the criminal court,” said Glenn Mackinlay, Rodriguez’s Defense Attorney.

Penton, Rodriguez, and Montanez were all released by the judge on personal recognizance. The fourth trooper who was indicted is expected to be in court in two weeks.