Cambridge Man Sentenced For Assaulting Corrections Officers

CAMBRIDGE, MA – A Cambridge man was sentenced in connection with a series of physical assaults against corrections officers. Stephen Gittens, 58, of Cambridge, was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury of six counts of assault and battery on a corrections officer on Wednesday and sentenced to four to five years in state prison, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian announced.

“The defendant in this case violently assaulted corrections officers on multiple occasions,” said Ryan in a statement. “This pattern of behavior, repeatedly compromising the safety of corrections officers in the course of their duties, is entirely unacceptable.”

Between February 2017 and July 2017, Gittens repeatedly assaulted corrections officers at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction.

On February 21, 2017, he punched a corrections officer after returning from a court appearance. On March 23, 2017, following a scheduled court appearance, he tackled a corrections officer into a metal cabinet.

When three corrections officers came to help their fallen corrections officer, Gittens physically assaulted them as well, according to authorities.

Gittens again attacked corrections officers on July 21, 2017, while officers were transporting the him inside the jail.

“Today’s sentence makes clear that acts jeopardizing the safety of our officers will be not be tolerated,” said Koutoujian in a statement. “The actions taken by Mr. Gittens demonstrate the danger our correction officers face on any given day, in any given moment. Providing a safe and secure environment for our officers, staff and inmates is paramount to us; any individual who seeks to disrupt that will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

During the course of this five month period, four corrections officers sought outside medical treatment for injuries sustained while attempting to transport the man from his scheduled court appearances, authorities said.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).