A former correctional officer at a federal prison in Massachusetts has been sentenced to one year in prison followed by two years of probation for assaulting a handcuffed inmate with severe mental health issues. Seth Bourget, 42, from Woodstock, Connecticut, was convicted in December of violating the inmate's civil rights. The incident occurred in June 2019 at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Devens.
The inmate, already distressed, had been pepper-sprayed and confined to a cell with his hands cuffed behind his back for approximately 45 minutes. He was reportedly agitated, unable to communicate coherently, or follow instructions. Bourget, leading a group of five officers, entered the cell and struck the inmate in the chin with a protective shield. The impact caused the inmate's head to snap back and he fell to the concrete floor.
The inmate sustained significant head injuries requiring twelve staples and a lip laceration needing six stitches. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy emphasized the public trust placed in corrections officers and condemned Bourget's abuse of authority. He highlighted the vulnerability of the mentally ill inmate and the blatant disregard for his well-being.
The Devens' Federal Medical Center is shown on April 26, 2013, in Devens, Massachusetts. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Bourget's arrest took place in February 2020, and he initially pleaded not guilty. FMC Devens, housing around 900 inmates, focuses on providing long-term medical and mental health care.
