New Bedford Man Who Assaulted Correctional Officers With His Urine Sentenced to Prison

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office 

Thomas M. Quinn III 

District Attorney

Press Release 

March 29, 2017
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A 21-year-old New Bedford man who while incarcerated at the Bristol County House of Corrections last year threw urine at correctional officers on multiple occasions has been sentenced to state prison, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.

Zachary Sherman pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to a five count indictment charging him with five counts of assault and battery on a correctional officer.  

On numerous occasions in July, 2016, the defendant either kicked or threw urine at correctional officers in the Dartmouth jail. There is no evidence that the defendant was provoked in any way by the correctional officers during these incidents.

At the time of the assaults, the defendant was serving a six month house of corrections for an assault case out of Salem District Court. His incarceration had been transferred to Bristol County.

During his sentencing hearing in Fall River Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll argued that the defendant should serve two to three years in state prison. Judge Raffia Yessayan agreed, sentencing the defendant to state prison for two to three years.

“The defendant engaged in uncivilized and grotesque behavior directed at officers who were trying to maintain order and who were not bothering the defendant,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This conduct simply cannot be tolerated.”

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576–cell​