Two ex-security guards from MedStar Washington Hospital Center pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of involuntary manslaughter before a Washington, D.C., Superior Court judge, according to a report from The Washington Post.
The trial date is set for July 17. If the two guards — Clifton Montgomery and Charles Brown — are found guilty, they could face up to 30 years in prison, according to the report. Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Brown were indicted last month on charges related to the death of 74-year-old patient James McBride.
Mr. McBride died of blunt force trauma to his neck and spinal cord two days after an altercation with the two former guards. On Sept. 29, Mr. McBride left the Washington, D.C.-based hospital without proper discharge. He was led back to the building by a nurse and security guard and then transferred to Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Brown.
Mr. McBride "became non-compliant and resisted and a struggle ensued," according to a police report cited by The Washington Post. One of the guards used hand controls to restrain Mr. McBride, who had to be resuscitated and was taken to intensive care. He died Oct. 1, according to the report.
The security guards were dismissed from their posts in November.
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