A federal judge has ruled that a Paterson police officer who admitted to using excessive force on a man in custody cannot take back his guilty plea.
The officer, Spencer Finch, had pleaded guilty to violating a man’s civil rights, but later tried to undo that plea. The judge has now made it clear—his plea will stay, and the case will move forward to sentencing.
Spencer Finch, a 46-year-old officer from Paterson, had been part of the police department since 2004. In his guilty plea, Finch admitted to physically attacking a man who was already handcuffed and not posing a threat.
The incident happened in 2020, during an arrest. Finch struck the man multiple times, even as the man lay on the ground. The violent action was also caught on the officer’s body camera.
Finch was charged under federal law for using excessive force and violating the victim’s civil rights. The charge is serious and carries up to 10 years in prison.
He accepted a plea deal in 2022, where he admitted to the crime. However, months later, Finch changed his mind. He told the court that he felt pressured by his lawyer to plead guilty and that he didn’t fully understand the legal consequences.
Finch’s new lawyers argued that he made the plea without truly understanding it, and they requested the judge to cancel the deal.
But prosecutors pushed back, saying Finch was fully aware of what he was doing. They pointed out that Finch had answered all questions clearly during his original court hearing and confirmed that he understood the plea and its consequences.
U.S. District Judge Katharine Hayden reviewed the request and rejected it. She said there was no solid reason to believe Finch didn’t understand what he was agreeing to at the time.
She also noted that Finch had repeated many times during the plea hearing that he was making the decision freely and with full understanding.
Judge Hayden’s ruling now means that the plea remains valid, and Finch will be sentenced soon. The exact date for his sentencing has not been confirmed yet.
This case is one of many that have come out of a broader investigation into the Paterson Police Department. Federal officials have been looking closely at claims of police misconduct, especially the use of excessive force and violation of citizens’ rights. In the past few years, multiple officers from Paterson have been charged with similar crimes.
The situation in Paterson has also drawn public attention. The city has seen protests and demands for more accountability from law enforcement.
Community members have expressed concern that some officers use their power in harmful ways. They hope that strict legal actions like this one will bring justice and help rebuild trust between police and residents.
Finch’s case is particularly troubling because it involved a person who was already handcuffed. The use of force in such a situation goes against police training and violates the basic rights of individuals under arrest.
Federal prosecutors have made it clear that this kind of behavior cannot be tolerated, especially from someone in a position of authority.
Finch, now suspended from the department, faces a future that could include several years in federal prison. His attempt to take back the guilty plea was his last hope to avoid jail time, but the judge’s firm decision has closed that door.
As this case moves forward, it sends a strong message to law enforcement officers: if you abuse your power, there will be consequences. And for the people of Paterson, it offers at least some assurance that the justice system is watching closely.