Binky
05-28-2005, 07:14 PM
FORMER POLICE OFFICER GETS NEARLY EIGHT YEARS FOR CORRUPTION
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A former narcotics detective was sentenced Friday to nearly eight years in prison for violating suspects' civil rights.
Paul Skinner, 46, was one of two former Buffalo officers convicted last December following a three-week jury trial in U.S. District Court. The other, Sylvestre Acosta, was sentenced earlier this month to 45 years in prison.
Acosta's lengthy sentenced stemmed from his conviction on three felony counts of carrying his police firearm while committing civil rights violations. The first such conviction carries a mandatory five-year prison term, while the second and third convictions each carry mandatory 25-year terms.
Skinner, sentenced to 93 months, was convicted of a single count of carrying a firearm during a civil rights crime, along with a conspiracy charge and a misdemeanor civil rights violation.
At trial, prosecutors said Skinner was among several narcotics detectives who violated the civil rights of drug suspects by falsifying information to obtain search warrants, planting evidence and stealing money and items.
Skinner's brother, Gerald Skinner, who also was charged, pleaded guilty prior to trial and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
New York City Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Newsday, Inc.
Contact: http://cf.newsday.com/newsdayemail/email.cfm
Website: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/printedition/
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A former narcotics detective was sentenced Friday to nearly eight years in prison for violating suspects' civil rights.
Paul Skinner, 46, was one of two former Buffalo officers convicted last December following a three-week jury trial in U.S. District Court. The other, Sylvestre Acosta, was sentenced earlier this month to 45 years in prison.
Acosta's lengthy sentenced stemmed from his conviction on three felony counts of carrying his police firearm while committing civil rights violations. The first such conviction carries a mandatory five-year prison term, while the second and third convictions each carry mandatory 25-year terms.
Skinner, sentenced to 93 months, was convicted of a single count of carrying a firearm during a civil rights crime, along with a conspiracy charge and a misdemeanor civil rights violation.
At trial, prosecutors said Skinner was among several narcotics detectives who violated the civil rights of drug suspects by falsifying information to obtain search warrants, planting evidence and stealing money and items.
Skinner's brother, Gerald Skinner, who also was charged, pleaded guilty prior to trial and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
New York City Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Newsday, Inc.
Contact: http://cf.newsday.com/newsdayemail/email.cfm
Website: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/printedition/