Rochester Man Swyn B. Nelson Sentenced for Assaulting Court Officer

Swyn B. Nelson, 48, of Rochester, NY, punched a federal court security officer in the head after being asked to comply with routine screening procedures at the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building on October 5, 2016. The unprovoked attack occurred in front of stunned courthouse visitors and triggered an immediate response from law enforcement inside the facility.

Nelson had entered the federal building at 100 State Street to report to the United States Probation Office when the incident unfolded. A Court Security Officer requested photo identification, prompting Nelson to hurl his wallet and personal items into a security tray—intentionally causing several to spill out. When instructed to wait before entering the walk-through metal detector, Nelson ignored the directive, forcing a second screening.

After retrieving his belongings, Nelson became confrontational. He raised his voice and declared, ‘I want to shout at you,’ before charging into a restricted area marked by stanchions, rope, and a table. The officer ordered him to retreat. Nelson refused—and instead lunged forward, striking the officer on the right side of the head with a closed fist.

The assault triggered a full response from the United States Marshals Service, which launched an investigation under the direction of U.S. Marshal Charles Salina. Evidence from surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony confirmed Nelson’s aggressive actions and noncompliance with security protocols, leading to his conviction on one count of assault on a federal officer.

Nelson was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized that attacks on federal personnel, especially within court facilities, will be met with serious consequences. ‘This was not just disorderly conduct—it was a violent assault on a sworn officer doing his job,’ Kennedy stated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey prosecuted the case, underscoring the importance of maintaining safety and order in federal buildings. The Keating Federal Building remains a high-security zone, and authorities reiterated that defiance of security measures will not be tolerated—especially when it escalates to physical violence.

RELATED: Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officer