Ex-Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Attacking Postmaster

The postmaster required stitches.

A former postal employee charged with assaulting the postmaster in Hartford pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Richard Covill, 52, of East Windsor, had been terminated from his job at the post office on July 16, 2010 and his U.S. Postal Service identification and security cards were taken, according to federal officials.  

On Oct. 18, 2011, he stormed into his former supervisor's office at the U.S. Post Office on Weston Road in Hartford at 7:54 a.m. on Tuesday about not being able to get his job back, officials said.

The supervisor asked Coville to leave. When the woman turned around, Coville shoved her from behind, according to a news release from U.S. States Attorney David Fein. The woman's head hit the front of her desk. 

Before leaving the building, Coville told her "You'll be sorry," Fein said.

The supervisor was taken to a local hospital and received stitches.  

Police took Coville into custody and police charged him state assault, trespass, disorderly conduct and threatening. Federal authorities charged him with assaulting a federal official engaged in the performance of her official duties.

Coville, who has been detained since Oct. 18, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of assault of a federal official. He will be sentenced on April 18.

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