America
Former Indian-American policeman jailed for rape
Washington, June 9
A court in the US state of
Massachusetts has sentenced a former Indian-origin police officer
convicted on rape charges to seven years in jail, media reported.
Rajat
Sharda, 34, the first Indian-origin police officer in the city of
Worchester in the state of Massachusetts, was found guilty of sexually
assaulting a woman in August 2013, open and gross lewdness, witness
intimidation and larceny while on duty, reported The Telegram daily on
Monday.
After seven years of imprisonment, Sharda will be on probation for 10 years.
The
former officer's victim, a 29-year-old Connecticut woman testified in
court that on August 6, 2013, night she was inside a parked sports
utility vehicle (SUV), undressed, with her boyfriend, when officer
Sharda approached the vehicle and asked her to step outside.
He then sexually assaulted and threatened the woman before leaving, she stated.
"I
don't agree with the decision. I don't agree with the verdict. My
client is innocent," said defence lawyer Peter L. Ettenberg, asking the
judge to spare his client a jail or prison sentence and place him on
straight probation.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan P. Donahue
recommended that Sharda should be sentenced up to 15 years behind bars
with probation to follow.
Donahue said the former officer was in a
position of power when he took advantage of a "vulnerable" victim and
violated public trust in the process.
Sharda was removed from police service in September 2014