Daniel Penny Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter In Jordan Neely's Death

NEW YORK CITY — The former Marine who put Jordan Neely in a deadly chokehold returned to court Wednesday to face a manslaughter indictment.

Daniel Penny, 24, of Long Island, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and criminal negligent homicide charges in a Manhattan courtroom, records show.

The charges stem from a grand jury indictment leveled two weeks ago in the high-profile case that has divided New Yorkers.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg maintains that Penny's actions May 1 — which were caught on a harrowing viral video — were criminal.

"Daniel Penny stands indicted for Manslaughter after allegedly putting Jordan Neely in a deadly chokehold for several minutes until and after he stopped moving," Bragg said in a statement.

Penny crossed paths with Neely, a respected Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental health issues, on board an F train in Manhattan.

Prosecutors said Neely had made threats to other passengers, which prompted Penny to grab him from behind and put him in a chokehold.

Over the course of many minutes, Penny continued the chokehold, even as Neely stopped moving, prosecutors said. Neely was taken from Broadway-Lafayette station to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Many New Yorkers, including Neely's family, have argued that Penny's long and ultimately deadly chokehold was unnecessary and a case of illegal vigilantism.

Penny, his lawyers and supporters argue that he acted in self-defense on behalf of his fellow straphangers.

Prosecutors first leveled charges against Penny in May, prompting his first visit to court. A grand jury afterward indicted him, which led to the most recent hearing.

Penny's next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 25.