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Office of the United States Attorney Acting United States Attorney
Candace G. Hill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For information contact February 25, 2009 Kyle Edelen (859) 685-4811 www.usdoj.gov/usao/kye E-Mail: Kyle.Edelen@usdoj.gov |
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FORMER USP BIG SANDY INMATE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR ASSAULT OF A FEDERAL OFFICER
Lexington , Ky. — Steven Michael Reid, 47, recently an inmate at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Big Sandy in Inez, Ky., received a 20-year sentence for assault of a federal officer. The 20 year sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell, was the most severe sentence allowed by federal law for this offense.
In July of 2008, Reid, formerly of Virginia, pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted that he threw scalding water on one of the prison unit manager’s face and neck. As a result of Reid’s assault, the unit manager suffered first and second degree burns to the face, neck, and chest.
“Mr. Reid deliberately harmed one of the members of our prison staff,” said Special Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Walasinski. “As Mr. Reid found out today, that type of behavior in our prisons will not be tolerated.”
Under federal law, Reid must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years after he’s released. Reid’s sentence must be served consecutively to any other sentence he is currently serving.
James A. Zerhusen, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy D. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement today after the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr.
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The charge of a person by Information is an accusation only and that
person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.