FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — The Fall River officer convicted of assaulting a handcuffed man and lying about it on a police report will spend nearly three years behind bars, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

Nicholas Hoar, 37, was found guilty earlier this year of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of filing false reports.

Hoar was arrested nearly two years after he hit and injured the man with his baton. Levy said Hoar then submitted two police reports that made no mention of the baton strike and blamed the victim’s injury on a fall.

“Police officers take an oath to uphold the law and the vast majority of men and women in uniform bravely protect and serve the public,” Levy said. “Nicholas Hoar violated his oath and broke the law.”

“This lengthy prison sentence sends a message to the entire community that we will continue to hold members of law enforcement accountable when they violate a person’s civil rights,” he continued.

Hoar was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

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