Sharda was the first desi officer to join the force in Worcester, Massachusetts.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Former Worcester, Massachusetts police officer Rajat Sharda was sentenced to 5-to-7 years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of rape.
A Worchester Superior Court jury found Rajat Sharda, who was the first Indian American police officer to join the Worcester force, of sexually assaulting a woman in August 2013 after finding her and a man having sex in a parked vehicle, at the Bancroft Tower parking lot.
The prosecutor in the case alleged Sharda then handcuffed the man inside the vehicle and ordered the woman to stand outside his cruiser, where he allegedly demanded the nude woman to take off a blanket, local news outlet Mass Live previously reported.
Instead of checking to make sure she wasn’t concealing any weapons as he had initially told her, Donahue stated Sharda sexually assaulted his victim and then masturbated in front of her. After the horrific encounter had run its course, Sharda allegedly threatened the woman to keep quiet about it.
“He was asking me what I’d be willing to do to not be arrested,” the victim stated in court. Michael Betancourt, the man who was with the alleged victim, testified he saw Sharda take a blanket from the woman that morning.
The jury found Sharda guilty of rape, larceny under $250, witness intimidation and open and gross lewdness. Judge David Ricciardone sentenced Sharda to the prison sentence for the rape charge and 10 years of probation for the other charges, according to a report from Mass Live made on Monday.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Donahue argued for a more drastic sentence, stating that Sharda violated the public’s trust and abused his power as an officer.
“He had a badge. He had a gun,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Donahue said before the judge issued his ruling. “His actions are frankly disgusting.”
Conversely — referring to letters of support written on his client’s behalf by members of his family — defense attorney Peter L. Ettenberg described Sharda as a deeply religious man who is devoted to his family, including his wife and year-old son, according to The Telegram.
However, Ettenberg’s efforts were not enough to prevent Sharda’s incarceration. As conditions of parole, Sharda “will undergo treatments,” register as a sex offender, and must stay away from his victim.
1 Comment
He is innocent and was set up due to his race!!! There is no proof or evidence that he did anything wrong. This is a pure case of discrimination. If you knew his background you will know that he will never commit such stoop act. But our Hindu desi society sucks in unity. No one in society will come and support the family. I respect how the Maryland black race had unity and they faught for justice knowing their son was innocent. Those bad cops in Maryland end up behind bars!!!!