Press Release
Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Two Federal Officers in Federal Courthouse
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting two federal officers, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Leonard Rushin-Felder, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with his guilty plea, Rushin-Felder admitted that on May 2, 2017, he appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell in the Joseph F. Weis, Jr., United States Courthouse for a detention hearing related to separate drug trafficking and firearms charges pending against him. At the conclusion of the detention hearing, Judge Mitchell ordered that the defendant be detained pending trial. The defendant further admitted that when two Deputy United States Marshals attempted to escort him from the courtroom, he forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with the Deputy Marshals while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties as federal law enforcement officers. During the ensuing struggle, the defendant made physical contact with the two Deputy Marshals. As part of his guilty plea, the defendant acknowledged that additional law enforcement and court personnel were needed to restrain him and assist with his removal from the courtroom.
As to each count, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 8 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Eric G. Olshan and Rachael L. Dizard are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation of Rushin-Felder.
Updated June 14, 2018
Topic
Violent Crime
Component