Rochester Man Sentenced For Assaulting Federal Court Security Officer

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Swyn B. Nelson, 48, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of assault on a federal officer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who handled the case, stated that in the morning on October 5, 2016, a federal Court Security Officer was stationed inside the front entrance of the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building at 100 State Street in Rochester. At that time, the defendant entered the front entrance of the federal building to report to the United States Probation Office. When the Court Security Officer asked for photo identification, Nelson threw his wallet and personal items into a tray in such a way that it caused some of the items to bounce out of the tray. The defendant stated that he was at the building to report to his Probation Officer. Nelson was asked to wait before entering the walk-through metal detector but did not comply with this order. As a result, the defendant was asked to walk through the metal detector a second time. Nelson did so and his personal items were then returned to him. At that time, the defendant raised his voice, stating, “I want to shout at you,” and then walked aggressively toward the Court Security Officer in a restricted area (which is marked off by stanchions, rope and a table). The Court Security Officer ordered the defendant out of the restricted area. Nelson then charged at the Court Security Officer and struck the Court Security Officer on the right side of the head with a closed fist. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Marshal’s Service, under the direction of United States Marshal Charles Salina.