Home Buffalo Press Releases 2010 Former Town of West Seneca Police Officer Indicted on Civil Rights Charges
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Former Town of West Seneca Police Officer Indicted on Civil Rights Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 14, 2010
  • Western District of New York (716) 843-5700

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a one count indictment charging Sean Kelley, 30, of West Seneca, with a felony charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that the indictment follows charges contained in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court on July 14, 2010 against the former Town of West Seneca Police Officer. Those charges accused Kelley of depriving a citizen of the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer acting under color of law. The complaint specifically alleged that Kelley physically confronted a person inside a restaurant, forcefully grabbed and walked the victim outside, and thereafter struck and choked the victim while two uniformed police officers looked on. 

The case against Sean Kelley is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross and Department of Justice Civil Rights Trial Attorney Patricia Sumner, with the assistance of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James Robertson.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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