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Attention: News Director |
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY Eastern District of Kentucky |
LONDON, Ky. — Former United States Penitentiary Big Sandy Inmate, Robert W. Howe, was sentenced on Thursday May 4, 2007, to serve 110 months by United States District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell.
Howe was found guilty by a federal jury after a two day trial in February of this year for assault with a dangerous weapon; simple assault; assaulting, resisting, opposing, and impeding a correctional officer; and possession of prison made weapons.
Howe, originally from Miami Fl., was found not guilty of assaulting a fellow inmate with the intent to murder, and threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer. The jury returned its verdict after a two day trial before United States District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell.
The evidence at trial established that on July 20, 2005, Howe assaulted fellow USP Big Sandy inmate Orlando Roberts with the intent to do bodily harm. During the assault, Howe used a dangerous weapon, that is, a five inch prison made shank, made from plastic, and sharpened to a point at one end.
The evidence also established that on the same day, Howe also assaulted, resisted, opposed, and impeded USP Big Sandy Correctional Officer Larry C. Adams, as Officer Adams was performing his official duties. Howe was found to be in possession of three prison made weapons in total.
Under federal law, Howe must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and upon release, will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.
The investigation was conducted by the USP Big Sandy Special Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the trial by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr.
Amul R. Thapar, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Hector Rios, Warden, United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, and Tracy A. Reinhold, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement after the sentencing.