Former court officer sentenced to jail

SALEM – A former court officer from Peabody was sentenced to a year in jail followed by three years of probation after admitting he beat two of his former girlfriends and held a cigarette lighter to one?s face.Gary M. Ricci, 51, of 13 Bourbon St., Unit 53, avoided trial by pleading guilty Wednesday afternoon in Salem Superior Court to assault with a dangerous weapon and four counts of assault and battery before Judge David A. Lowy.Lowy said Ricci?s conduct toward the two women was “evil, methodical and manipulative,” as he handed down the sentence.The charges involve two women, one a 59-year-old Gloucester medical professional woman and the other a 45-year-old Lynnfield woman, who described the verbal and physical abuse Ricci caused along with the emotional scarring left after their relationships.Ricci worked as the Chief Court Officer at the Malden District Court, but went on disability after he was assaulted by an inmate at the court in 1993.Ricci was in a 10-month relationship with the Lynnfield woman in 2006, when during a July 10 argument, he headbutted her. Two weeks later, he punched her in the stomach twice, with one punch causing her to lose her breath, according to Assistant District Attorney Kristen R. Buxton. The women then left his home and proceeded to get a restraining order against RicciA few months later he entered another relationship with the Gloucester woman. On Dec. 22, Ricci held a cigarette lighter to her face and struck the back of her head with his hand at his Peabody home. As part of the plea concession, prosecutors dropped the two most serious charges of rape, both involving the Gloucester woman. She said she was forced to have sex with him and another person at his home on the same day as the lighter incident.Buxton sought a prison term of up to three years for Ricci due to the acts of domestic violence he commited on the two women. Buxton reminded the judge how Ricci degraded the women, made threats toward them and their families and caused them great fear in an effort to control them.Defense lawyer Kevin M. Mitchell asked for leniency, suggesting time served along with one year of probation so Ricci could deal with his mental health issues.Mitchell told Lowy of how his client was physically and emotionally injured while restraining an inmate as a court officer at Malden District Court in 1993 and how Ricci now suffers from post-traumatic stress.Mitchell insisted his recommendation is appropriate while reminding the judge that his client admits to striking the women, but is truly sorry and wants to apologize.Once Ricci leaves prison, Lowy ordered that he must complete a batterer?s treatment program, continue with his mental health treatment along with any prescribed medications and stay away from his accusers while on probation.The judge credited Ricci with the 300 days he has spent in jail awaiting trial.