The former Rockport part-time police officer charged in June with allegedly breaking down the door of a South Boston man’s home and assaulting him has been handed reduced charges after a court date in Boston last Friday.
Kyle Keating, 26, now faces a charge of breaking and entering at night, rather than the home invasion charge formerly leveled against him in June, according to Suffolk County District Attorney’s Deputy Press Secretary Renee Nadeau Algarin.
Judge Michael C. Bolden, presiding over the case, amended the charges.
Home invasion carries a minimum sentence of 20 years in state prison, while the sentence for breaking and entering at night ranges from a jail sentence of up to 2 1/2 years to a state prison term of up to 20 years.
The other charges against Keating — assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shoed foot), and destruction or injury of personal property — still stand, according to Algarin.
The alleged incident leading to the charges occurred about 4 a.m. on a June morning, when Keating’s reportedly estranged 20-year-old girlfriend was allegedly inside of the 48-year-old South Boston man’s home. Police say that Keating broke into the apartment door and assaulted the man, while Keating and the woman allegedly left together when the victim went to the police station to report the incident.
Police who responded reported a damaged door and signs of a struggle within the home.
Keating worked as a part-time officer in Rockport from December 2009 until he resigned from the force on March 19 to “seek new career opportunities,” Rockport Police Chief John “Tom” McCarthy has said.
Keating is due to return to court on Oct. 29, but a trial date has yet to be set, Algarin said.
Marjorie Nesin can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3451, or at mnesin@gloucestertimes.com.
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