Christopher Porco’s first weekend as an inmate in the Albany County Jail was very subdued, almost serene.
He’s been quiet, said Albany County Sheriff James Campbell. `He hasn’t said much at all.`
Porco has been an inmate for less than a week. On Thursday, Aug. 10, an Orange County jury in Goshen found him guilty of the murder of his father, Peter Porco, and the attempted murder of his mother, Joan Porco, on Nov. 15, 2004, in their Brockley Drive, Delmar, home.
When the verdict was read, Porco’s mother Joan was noticeably absent from the courtroom. Sheriff’s deputies from Albany County escorted Porco from Goshen to the Albany County Jail late Thursday night, and by Friday afternoon, Aug. 11, Joan Porco was able to make arrangements to see the son the jury convicted of attacking her on that fateful Monday, Nov. 15, 2004.
`The visit was a request from his attorney (Terence Kindlon),` said Campbell. Joan Porco was able to see her son twice the first weekend.
`There are 800 inmates in our jail and visitation is twice weekly,` said Campbell. `We change it periodically.`
A full medical and mental health workup was conducted this past weekend on Porco. who authorities believe could be a sociopath.
`I honestly think Christopher Porco is a sociopath,` said Assistant District Attorney David Rossi who tried the case for the prosecution along with Michael McDermott. `There is no doubt about that.`
Rossi said at one point during the investigation the FBI was contacted to work up a profile on Porco.
`We did as much as we could with an FBI psychologist who did a work up, but they couldn’t come to a conclusion without interviewing Chris Porco himself,` Rossi added.
`They said he had traits of a narcissistic personality,` said Rossi, who believes that Porco is totally consumed with himself.
On the ride back to Albany from Goshen, Porco closed his eyes and fell asleep in the back seat of the sheriff’s car.
`The two supervisors told me he nodded off on his way back from Goshen,` said Campbell. So far, jail officials do not believe Porco will be a problem while he is in Albany County’s jail.
`He answers when he is spoken to,` said Campbell. `He is not a problem inmate.`
There are five different classifications of prisoners at the Albany County Jail and Porco will live in a unit with inmates of similar criminal charges.
`You don’t want someone with a DWI in there with someone charged with murder,` said Campbell.
Porco will eat his meals in his cell and will be allowed outside once a day to shower. After a few days, the man who celebrated his 23rd birthday just last month will be a part of the regular inmate population. After sentencing in October, Porco will be sent downstate to live.
`He will go to the downstate correctional facility in Fishkill, where all newly admitted inmates in the state corrections facilities go,` said Campbell.
Porco could be sent to any one of 17 maximum-security correctional facilities run by the state including, Green Haven, Sing-Sing or Attica State prison.
Porco could face anywhere from 50 years to life in prison upon sentencing.
Kindlon is filing an appeal, but has not commented on what grounds the appeal is based.
“