David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Bethel, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that RICHARD COVILL, 52, of the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of assault of a federal official.
           
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 18, 2011, COVILL, a former employee of the U.S. Postal Service, traveled to the Hartford Processing and Distribution Center, located at 141 Weston Road in Hartford, parked in the parking lot, entered a restricted elevator and traveled up to the third floor.  COVILL then approached the office of the Hartford Postmaster and began talking to her.  The Postmaster asked COVILL to leave and then turned around toward her office. COVILL then forcibly pushed the Postmaster from behind, causing her to fall forward and strike her head against her desk and knock over a chair.
          
  The Postmaster was transported to a local hospital and was treated for a laceration on her forehead, which required stitches to close the wound.
           
COVILL has been detained since October 18, 2011, when he was arrested by Hartford Police.
           
Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for April 18, 2012, at which time COVILL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
           
This case has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the East Windsor Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Latif.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

 

 

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