5 years in death of Rikers inmate

A FORMER Rikers Island captain who allowed a mentally ill inmate to suffer for hours and die after swallowing a toxic soap ball was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison.

Terrence Pendergrass, 51, (top photo) wiped sweat from his brow as Manhattan Federal Court Judge Ronnie Abrams slammed him for deciding not to call a doctor as Jason Echevarria (bottom photo) suffered. He was declared dead Aug. 19, 2012.

“Mr. Pendergrass, I don’t doubt how difficult your job as a correction officer was. But one thing would not have been difficult — to allow Mr. Echevarria to see a doctor,” Abrams said.

“A man died here — a 25-year-old man — because of your indifference and your callousness.”

The judge noted two correction officers and a nurse in the wing dedicated to mentally ill inmates

notified Pendergrass of Echevarria’s worsening condition.

“As a result of your refusal . . . he needlessly suffered for hours as his insides literally burned,” Abrams said.

Pendergrass, of Queens, was convicted in December of one count of denying Echevarria medical care resulting in death.

Pendergrass apologized to Echevarria’s family in court.

“If I apologize for this situation 1,000 times I feel like it’s still not enough,” Pendergrass said.

He added that he simply hadn’t received “accurate” information about Echevarria. He walked out with his arms around family. His lawyer, James Frankie, vowed to appeal.

Ramon Echevarria, Jason’s father, wished the sentence had been tougher.

“He’s not a human being, this man. I hope he has a hard time in jail,” he said.

The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office announced charges last week against one current and two former Rikers correction officers for the 2012 beating and coverup of an inmate who died.