Cambridge Man Sentenced for Assaulting Corrections Officers

BILLERICA – Wednesday, September 11, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian have announced that 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, September 11. Judge Peter Krupp sentenced the defendant to four to five years in state prison.

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

“Today’s sentence makes clear that acts jeopardizing the safety of our officers will be not be tolerated,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “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.”

Between February of 2017 and July of 2017, Mr. Gittens repeatedly assaulted corrections officers at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction. On February 21, 2017, the defendant punched a corrections officer after returning from a court appearance. On March 23, 2017, following a scheduled court appearance, Mr. Gittens tackled a corrections officer into a metal cabinet. When three corrections officers came to assist their colleague, the defendant proceeded to physically assault them as well. Mr. Gittens again attacked corrections officers on July 21, 2017, while officers were transporting the defendant inside the jail.

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

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Robert Royce.