Florida prison warden, aides removed

A prison warden and two top assistants were removed from their posts Wednesday after an inmate was beaten and choked last week, allegedly by four guards.

Charles Gundlah was treated by medical staff at Hendry Correctional Institution after another corrections officer, Sgt. Bruce Sooy, noticed bruises on his neck March 14.

Investigators say Gundlah was removed from his cell and taken out of the range of security cameras, then beaten on the head and choked into unconsciousness because he had filed a grievance about his treatment.

Prisons boss Jim McDonough fired the four guards Friday. On Wednesday he removed Warden Carol Starling, 53, and assistant warden Jim Tridico, 62, who are pending reassignment. Col. William Avant, 40, was fired.

"Some of the officers, and perhaps some of the leaders, thought they could take the law onto themselves," McDonough said.

Telephone numbers for Starling and Avant were not available. A man who identified himself as Tridico hung up on a reporter.

McDonough was named secretary of the Department of Corrections 13 months ago, after his predecessor was arrested for accepting kickbacks from vendors doing business with the state's prisons.

Gundlah is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. The prison houses 1,062 men under medium and minimum security.