Four corrections officers at the Attica Correctional Facility were indicted by a grand jury this week for alleged gang assault on an inmate, and other charges including conspiracy and tampering with physical evidence.

One of the officers contacted YNN to speak out against the State Department of Corrections, but was advised by his attorney not to speak publicly. But as YNN's Kate McGowan tell us, there is someone speaking out on the officers behalf.

ATTICA, N.Y. — Al Mothershed represents more than 6,800 corrections officers as the state's western regional representative. He is close with the Attica corrections officers who face up to 25 years behind bars if convicted on charges, including gang assault.

"It's a very sad day to watch your guys, you know, get booked to get transported down to court. It’s sad,” Mothershed said.

On Tuesday, Keith Swack, Sean Warner, Matthew Raddemacher, and Erik Hibsch were arrested and charged after a four-month long investigation headed up by the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Investigators said the men attacked an inmate, identified as George Williams, inside Attica Correctional Facility on August 9th, 2011.

"They've conducted over 60 interviews of hospital staff, medical staff, correctional staff, and inmates, and turned that information over to the District Attorney's Office in Wyoming County and the District Attorney’s Office presented that information to the grand jury,” said an investigator from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The alleged attack happened a month before a lockdown at Attica State Prison. In the time leading up to the lockdown, Mothershed said the facility was filled with weapons, primarily in C-Block, where the four officers work.

He said more than 60 weapons were found on inmates. Mothershed said prison management told all officers to be on alert, and take any threats seriously.

"If you have reason to believe that somebody has a weapon, either on the person, or in their cell, you're going to take action."

On August 9th, Mothershed said one of the charged officers noticed a weapon on Williams. He says the officer called for back up and they did what they are trained to do.

"They reacted. They did not go after this guy, they did not beat him up intentionally. They used the amount of force that was necessary to gain control of this inmate and keep him from attaining a weapon."

As a result, investigators said Williams was injured. One of the officers said injuries to Williams included a broken fibula, fractured shoulder blade, and sprained ankle.

"This inmate wasn't a 90 pound little weakling. He was an inmate that was in very good shape, very good shape, and he was struggling. He was fighting, so the officer absolutely was fighting for his life,” said Mothershed.

The State Inspector General's Office filed a criminal complaint with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Mothershed said this incident has created lasting implications for all prison employees.

"We're trained to respond if people need help. And now you’re telling us that if we respond, and you don't think what we did is appropriate, you're going to criminally charge us."

All four men were also suspended without pay.

"When they start believing inmates over staff, that sends a serious flag up,” Mothershed explained.

Mothershed said the punishment of the officers for simply doing their job shows injustice in the prison system.

In response to the indictments, the State Department of Corrections said they are in for, "what they bargained for including their due process protections".

It went on to say, "We have a great respect for our security personnel who have a very difficult job, and despite this situation, we expect the 20,000 men and women working in security positions in our 60 facilities will continue to perform their duties at the high level of professionalism and dedication that they routinely demonstrate.”

Mothershed firmly believes the officers will be exonerated, and be back to work.

"At the end of the day, it's all going to have a good ending for them, it's just going to be a bad memory."