| A convicted cop killer had choices Monday when it came to charges against him in connection with an assault on a Bucks County Prison corrections officer. He could have asked for a jury trial or pleaded guilty, but mentally ill. And he could have asked for a pre-sentencing investigation. Instead, and against his attorney's advice, Robert Flor, formerly of Bedminster, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and related charges for a brutal, unprovoked attack on corrections Officer Edward Miles and asked to be sentenced immediately. Bucks County Judge Kenneth Biehn complied, accepting Flor's plea and sentencing him to seven to 20 years in prison. It seemed a moot point because Flor, 39, is on death row for the Sept. 29, 2005, slaying of Newtown police Officer Brian Gregg. But Miles, who suffered a broken finger and two black eyes during the beating, deserved justice, Biehn said. The courtroom was dark and silent as Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Gambardella played a tape of the attack, captured via a video camera mounted on the wall in Flor's cell block. The video shows Flor battering Miles, knocking him to the floor. When Miles got to his feet, Flor continued to push him and knock him down again. Another inmate, Timothy Heidelmark, blocked another officer who tried to help. The attack was broken up when other corrections officers stormed the cell block. Miles was out of work for six weeks as a result of the assault. Peter Hall, Flor's attorney, told Biehn that Flor did not want to endure any more legal proceedings, saying his client "didn't want to have any reason to return to Bucks County Court." |
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