FORMER POLICE OFFICER GETS NEARLY EIGHT YEARS FOR CORRUPTION

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A former narcotics detective was sentenced Friday to
nearly eight years in prison for violating suspects' civil rights.

Paul Skinner, 46, was one of two former Buffalo officers convicted last
December following a three-week jury trial in U.S. District Court. The
other, Sylvestre Acosta, was sentenced earlier this month to 45 years in
prison.

Acosta's lengthy sentenced stemmed from his conviction on three felony
counts of carrying his police firearm while committing civil rights
violations. The first such conviction carries a mandatory five-year prison
term, while the second and third convictions each carry mandatory 25-year
terms.

Skinner, sentenced to 93 months, was convicted of a single count of
carrying a firearm during a civil rights crime, along with a conspiracy
charge and a misdemeanor civil rights violation.

At trial, prosecutors said Skinner was among several narcotics detectives
who violated the civil rights of drug suspects by falsifying information to
obtain search warrants, planting evidence and stealing money and items.

Skinner's brother, Gerald Skinner, who also was charged, pleaded guilty
prior to trial and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.