A former Westchester County corrections officer convicted in the beating death of an inmate was back in court Wednesday to face federal civil rights charges.

Cote beat a mentally ill inmate, Zoran Teodorovic, who had attacked another guard at the County Jail in Valhalla in October 2000. Prosecutors say Cote stomped so hard on Teodorovic's head that he fell into a coma and died more than a year later. Cote has already served three months in state prison for the assault. The new charges allege that he also violated Teodorovic's civil rights.

Cote pleaded not guilty in federal court. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the new charges. A trial date has been set for June 12.