WASHINGTON — Sparks flew in court Thursday as the man who used a car to ram and seriously injure a D.C. police officer learned his sentence.
Kevin Burno, 26, was forcibly removed from the courtroom by U.S. marshals after he interrupted the judge and refused to listen to her during his sentencing.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Patricia Broderick told Burno that he was still blaming everyone else for the March 2013 incident when he disrupted the proceedings.
After a break, Burno was brought back in and sentenced to 15 years for a host of charges related to the incident. He had been found guilty on charges that included assault on a police officer and assault with a dangerous weapon, as well as drug charges.
The victim, Officer Sean Hickman, was patrolling in Southeast D.C. on a motor scooter when he told Burno that his car’s headlights were not on. Prosecutors say Burno then intentionally slammed into Hickman, sending him flying 15 feet and leaving him with severe injuries.
In court, Hickman said he nearly lost a leg and underwent more than 20 surgeries. He has not been able to return to patrol duties since he was struck.
“It’s been a long journey for the past two years, seven months,” Hickman said.
Burno spoke at length when given the chance, acknowledging the pain Hickman has suffered as a result of the assault. But he refused to admit that he was the driver, saying it might jeopardize an appeal of his case or the cases of others who were in the car when the officer was hit. He also spoke of his struggle with drugs, alcohol and depression.
Prosecutors described Burno as someone unwilling to accept responsibility for his actions and who engages in delusional thinking. They said Burno originally claimed to have been carjacked. Then he changed his story and claimed that he was in the car, but was not the driver.
Hickman briefly spoke to reporters as he left the courthouse.
“We got justice,” he said. “At least for now this page is coming to a close in our life.”
