4th inmate testifies he was abused by ACI guards

PROVIDENCE -- A fourth former inmate in the abuse trial of two former guards at the Adult Correctional Institutions provided harrowing testimony this afternoon about a lengthy interrogation in the prison's minimum security unit. Jose Gonzalez, who was serving a two-year sentence, told the court that on Feb. 14, 2006, he reported to the office of Capt. Gualter Botas to retrieve packets of soup that were confiscated from his living quarters in minimum security on the previous night. Gonzalez testified that Botas "smacked'' him when he addressed him by the rank of lieutenant, instead of captain. Also in the room were co-defendant Lt. Kenneth Viveiros and Officer Ernest Spaziano, the former inmate said. Over the course of several hours, Gonzalez testified that Botas struck him in the head more than 30 times with a phone book,... [read full story]