Kentucky man sentenced for assaulting a member of congress

Victim attacked while mowing his yard.

Indianapolis B Josh J. Minkler, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced today that a Bowling Green, Kentucky, man was sentenced for assaulting a member of congress resulting in personal injury, a felony under federal law. Rene A. Boucher 60, was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Marianne Batanni from the Eastern District of Michigan, sitting by special designation. 

“Assaulting a member of Congress is an offense we take very seriously,” said Minkler. “Those who choose to violate the law will be aggressively prosecuted in federal court.”

According to court documents, Boucher and the victim are neighbors in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On November 3, 2017, the victim was mowing his yard while wearing headphones. Boucher allegedly witnessed the victim stack brush onto a pile near the victim’s property and “had enough.” Boucher ran onto the victim’s property and tackled the victim. As a result of this assault, the victim suffered multiple fractured ribs and subsequently contracted and required medical attention for pneumonia. Boucher admitted the assault but denied it was politically motivated. 

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana was assigned the case following the recusal of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky where the offense was committed

This case was investigated by the Louisville office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kentucky State Police.

“The FBI takes seriously assaults against our elected officials, regardless of motive,” said Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess of the FBI's Louisville field office. “Today's sentence should send a clear message that there are consequences to such actions.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Bradley P. Shepard of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana who prosecuted this case as a Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General, Boucher must serve one year of supervised release following his sentence and pay a $10,000 fine.