Former New Bedford Man’s Sentence for Tackling Rand Paul Appealed
LOUISVILLE, KY — Federal prosecutors are appealing the sentence of the man who tackled Kentucky Senator Rand Paul in the yard of his Bowling Green home.
Rene Boucher, a neighbor of Sen. Paul's and a former New Bedford, Massachusetts, resident, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and a $10,000 fine in March after pleading guilty to a charge of misdemeanor assault.
Prosecutors say Boucher "spear-tackled" Paul on the lawn of his home while the senator was doing yard-work on November 3, 2017. The attack was allegedly motivated by a dispute over Paul dumping yard waste close to Boucher's property line, though others believe the attack may have been politically motivated.
The attack left Senator Paul with several broken ribs, a damaged lung, and chronic pain.
Federal prosecutors have now filed an appeal of the sentence, claiming that the federal judge did not give enough weight to the seriousness of the attack, and took too much into account Boucher's work as a physician, his military service, and his church involvement.
The appeal also argues that if the case had been tried in a state court, the charge may have been updated to felony assault which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.