BOSTON, Mass. - A New Bedford man appeared in U.S. District Court today to face charges of assaulting a federal employee.

RONALD VIGEANT, 52, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service. Specifically, the complaint charges, among other things, that VIGEANT approached the supervisor in the parking lot behind the Main Post Office, on Pleasant Street in New Bedford around 5:45 p.m. on May 6, 2010. According to the complaint, as the supervisor was speaking with VIGEANT, when VIGEANT began striking the supervisor in the head and body with his fists. They went to the ground, where the struggle continued. When police arrived, the supervisor was transported to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken pelvis, two cracked ribs and lacerations to the face that required stitches.

If convicted VIGEANT faces up to 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Judge Sorokin set VIGEANT’s detention hearing for Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Robert Bethel, Postal Inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Chief Ronald Teachman of the New Bedford Police Department made the announcement today.

The details contained in the Complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

 

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