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Press Release

Man Sentenced For Attack On Federal Marshals

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. - Robert Lee Locke, 29, of Prichard, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court today for his assault of two United States deputy marshals. Court documents reflect that the attack occurred outside a federal courtroom where Locke had just been sentenced for a violation of a supervised release term in a prior federal drug conviction. Locke became unruly as the court proceeding adjourned, and in the hallway outside the courtroom, Locke, who was in custody, used the handcuffs on his hands and his fingernails against the deputy marshal escorting him back to the marshals holding area for prisoners in federal custody. A second deputy marshals was also present, who sought to gain control of Locke. In addition to cuts and abrasions on the face and head of the first deputy marshal, Locke scratched the cornea of the second deputy marshal and bit her on the arm.

Locke pled guilty to two counts of impeding a deputy marshal in the performance of official duties in November of 2012. United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade imposed a sentence of 70 months imprisonment on each count, but ordered that the time run concurrently. Locke was also ordered to serve another term of three years supervised release following the completion of his prison term. The judge ordered that Locke pay restitution for the medical expenses incurred by the injuries he inflicted on the deputy marshals, and imposed a special mandatory assessment of $200.

The United States Marshals Service in Mobile conducted the investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

Updated January 26, 2015