Ballston Spa man gets 25 years in prison in killing of neighbor

A Ballston Spa man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for beating his neighbor with a baseball bat in 2022, which eventually caused the man’s death.

Pharrin Greene, 47, broke down the front door of his downstairs neighbor, 67-year-old Bernard Rodgers, on March 12, 2022, entered his apartment and struck him multiple times with the bat.

Rodgers had severe head injuries and died from his injuries 5 months later.

Greene was convicted of five counts including manslaughter, assault, two counts of burglary and criminal mischief after a two-week trial in September.

Members of Rodgers’ family provided victim impact statements. His daughter Letika Rodgers, said her father was a proud U.S. Marine and after the attack was not able to walk, talk, eat or use the restroom on his own.

“That wasn’t my dad … he was always active and independent,” according to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office.

His widow, Ruby Rodgers, expressed her bewilderment with why Greene would take away a good man.

Navree Woods-Turner, his niece, said that her uncle was there for her emotionally and financially when her house burned down. His stepdaughter, Ameka Bethea, said that he treated her like her biological daughter and inspired her to go to college.

District Attorney Karen Heggen credited the quick response of the Ballston Spa Police Department and its joint investigation with State Police for leading to this conviction.

Bernard Rodgers