Inmate At Federal Correctional Institute At Allenwood Pleads Guilty To Assault Of Correctional Officer

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Demetrius Catching, age 28, formerly of Lexington, Kentucky, and currently inmate at FCI Allenwood,  pleaded guilty on April 2, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to assault on a correctional officer.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Catching admitted to punching a correctional officer during an altercation on March 7, 2016.

Judge Mariani ordered a presentence investigation report to be completed.  Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.          

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.         

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is up to eight years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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