Rand Paul's neighbor pleads guilty to attacking senator over yard brush

Matthew Glowicki
Courier Journal
US Senator Rand Paul made a Wednesday afternoon stop at the UPS Flight Training Center for a roundtable discussion with local business leaders on Oct. 11, 2017.

Rene Boucher, a neighbor of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, has pleaded guilty to attacking the politician in November after reaching a breaking point over lawn maintenance.

Boucher, 59, agreed to a plea agreement that included a 21-month sentence recommendation by the prosecution.

The attack, Boucher told police, was motivated by an issue over property, not politics. 

Paul was mowing his yard on Nov. 3, 2017, at his home in the Rivergreen gated community in Bowling Green when Boucher saw Paul stacking brush onto a pile near his property, according to court records.

Boucher had "had enough," ran downhill towards Paul — who was wearing headphones and only noticed Boucher at the last second — and tackled him. 

It was a “property dispute that had finally boiled over,” according to the plea agreement reached in January.

Related:Rene Boucher charged with felony assault against Bowling Green neighbor Sen. Rand Paul

Background:Rand Paul's neighbor accused of attacking him pleads not guilty

Boucher entered the guilty plea Friday in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green, confirmed federal case manager Kelly Lovell. 

Sentencing is set for June 15, at which point a judge will determine Boucher's final sentence. While prosecutors have recommended a 21-month prison sentence, Boucher can argue for the sentence he believes is appropriate.  

Rene Boucher appears in court for an arraignment hearing on Nov. 9, 2017, at the Warren County Justice Center. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP)

Paul was left with six broken ribs, the recovery from which was a "living hell," Paul said in an interview on CBS News.

For months, Paul didn’t publicly address the motive behind the attack saying, "I just don't think of any kind of motivation or justification, whether it's political or personal, to attack someone who's unaware from behind in their own yard."

In a previous statement, Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to Paul, said Paul and his family have not talked with his neighbor in roughly 10 years and that there was no dispute between the men.

The federal charge, assault of a member of Congress, carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, court records show.

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The case is prosecuted by Josh J. Minkler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

Boucher was originally charged at the state level by Kentucky State Police with fourth-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor.

Boucher admitted to going on the senator's property and tackling him, according to a KSP arrest warrant.

He was ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from Paul and his family. That case was ultimately dropped after Boucher was charged federally.  

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/mattg.