The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has remanded the sentence of the man who attacked Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and broke several of the lawmaker’s ribs.
A federal court sentenced Rene Boucher, Paul’s neighbor, to 30 days in prison for attacking the senator in November 2017 over a lawn-related dispute. The 6th Circuit sent the case back to the lower court after finding its ruling lacked “compelling justification” for such a short prison term, according to court documents.
The upper court found that the lower court had considered Boucher’s social status and success when sentencing him to a prison term far shorter than the recommended minimum for such a crime.
“To prioritize a defendant’s education, professional success, and standing in the community would give an additional leg up to defendants who are already in a privileged position,” the 6th Circuit’s ruling says.
On the day of the attack, Paul had blown leaves onto Boucher’s lawn. Boucher had crossed into Paul’s property and tackled the Republican lawmaker from behind, breaking half a dozen of Paul’s ribs. The attack also caused Paul to have a pleural effusion that developed into pneumonia.
[Opinion: Sixth Circuit: 30-day sentence for Rand Paul attacker is too lenient]
