A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas sheriff to four years in prison for hitting and grabbing inmatesIn August, a jury found Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen guilty of two counts of deprivation of rights under cover of the law. The judge sentenced Boen to four years in prison on each count, but said the sentences would run concurrently so that Boen would be released after four years. The judge also ordered Boen to pay a $5,000 fine. Boen will then benefit from two years of probation. Boen’s defense attorneys asked him to serve his sentence in a federal prison in Forrest City. Boen begged for mercy… and he got a good deal. “The judge said just before handing down the sentence, ‘I don’t think you’re a bad person… you’re a person who let a little bit of authority go to your head…’ During his trial in August, witnesses testified for four days about three incidents that allegedly occurred in 2017 and 2018. Boen punched an inmate multiple times in the head while he was sitting on the ground and chained to a bench inside the prison. He then returned to the inmate’s cell, hit him on the head again and spat on him. Boen knocked an inmate to the ground in another incident and ripped his hair out during a In one incident, a former MP said Boen ordered him to file a police report that falsely claimed the victim was trying to escape.
A federal judge has sentenced a former Arkansas sheriff to four years in prison for hitting and grabbing inmates.
In August, a jury found Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen guilty of two counts of disqualification under the statute.
The judge sentenced Boen to four years in prison on each count, but said the sentences would run concurrently so Boen would be released after four years.
The judge also ordered Boen to pay a $5,000 fine. Boen will then benefit from two years of probation.
Boen’s defense attorneys requested that he serve his sentence in federal prison in Forrest City.
Today Boen spoke in court for about 10-15 minutes and became emotional.
Judge Timothy Brooks acknowledged that “Boen begged for mercy…and he made his case.”
The judge said just before handing down the sentence: “I don’t think you are a bad person… you are a person who let a little authority go to your head…”
During his trial in August, witnesses testified for four days about three incidents that allegedly occurred in 2017 and 2018.
Boen punched an inmate several times in the head while he was sitting on the ground and chained to a bench inside the prison. He then returned to the inmate’s cell, hit him on the head again and spat on him.
Boen knocked an inmate to the ground in another incident and tore his hair out during interrogation.
In one incident, a former deputy said Boen asked him to file a police report that falsely claimed the victim was trying to escape.
