BOSTON – A federal jury in Boston has convicted a senior correctional officer at FMC Devens of injuring an inmate following a five-day trial.
Seth M. Bourget, 42, of Woodstock, Conn., a Senior Correctional Officer at U.S. Bureau Prisons Federal Medical Middle in Devens (FMC Devens), was convicted of 1 rely of deprivation of civil rights below colour of regulation. U.S. District Courtroom Choose Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for April 5, 2023. Bourget was arrested and charged in February 2020.
“When Mr. Bourget took an oath to grow to be a regulation enforcement officer, he swore to serve and defend. He violated that oath when he violently struck a mentally impaired and handcuffed inmate,” stated United States Legal professional Rachael S. Rollins. “When members of regulation enforcement display such poor judgment and gross misconduct, they undermine the distinctive work the overwhelming majority of their colleagues do day-after-day. Sporting a badge is an honor and comes with huge duty. Mr. Bourget’s conduct fell to date under that customary he’s now a convicted felon. We thank the jury for his or her verdict. The sufferer on this case sustained vital bodily accidents and required 12 staples to shut a gash Mr. Bourget precipitated to the again of his cranium. As we speak’s conviction is for him.”
“We entrust Correctional Officers with nice authority and duty. Bourget abused his energy and assaulted an inmate utilizing extreme pressure. As we speak, the jury held him accountable for his misconduct,” stated Ryan T. Geach, Particular Agent in Cost of the Division of Justice Workplace of the Inspector Common New York Subject Workplace.
“As we speak’s verdict exhibits that corrections officers like Seth Bourget who break the regulation, violate their oath, deprive an inmate of their civil rights, after which attempt to cowl it up will likely be held accountable for his or her disgraceful conduct,” stated Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Particular Agent in Cost of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Most corrections officers are good and trustworthy public servants doing an enormously difficult and essential job, however the FBI won’t hesitate to pursue those that violate the civil rights of their prisoners as a result of nobody is above the regulation.”
In response to proof introduced at trial, on or about June 18, 2019, Bourget struck a handcuffed inmate affected by extreme psychological sickness with a big protecting protect with extreme pressure, inflicting critical head accidents.
The cost of willful deprivation of civil rights below colour of regulation gives for a sentence of as much as 10 years in jail, two years of supervised launch and a superb of as much as $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court docket decide based mostly upon the U.S. Sentencing Tips and statutes which govern the willpower of a sentence in a prison case.
U.S. Legal professional Rollins, DOJ-OIG SAC Geach and FBI Boston SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement at present. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of Rollins’ Public Corruption Unit and Torey B. Cummings of Rollins’ Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit are prosecuting the case.