A 51-year-old Jamestown man who injured a corrections officer while incarcerated at the Chautauqua County Jail was found guilty this week of a second-degree assault charge.
Oliver Bookman is scheduled to be sentenced May 16 by County Court Judge David Foley; he faces up to seven years in state prison, District Attorney Jason Schmidt said.
“This conviction was the result of the corrections officers’ professionalism and preparedness, especially during their trial testimony,” Schmidt said in a statement. “Corrections officers are charged with the duty of ensuring the safety and security of inmates and staff at the jail. It truly is a thankless job. We may not think about it, because it happens outside the public view, but every day they put their personal safety on the line.”
Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone also commented on the “difficult work” corrections officers encounter every day. “We cannot tolerate any acts of violence against our officers and will continue to charge those individuals who commit such crimes,” the sheriff said.
Bookman was jailed at the Mayville facility on another charge when the assault occurred. No further information, including whether the corrections officer required treatment, has been made public.
The guilty verdict, stemming from an incident at the jail last summer, is the first trial to end with a verdict in the county since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered court functions in 2020.