A Pittsburgh-area man accused of punching two security guards at a downtown Social Security Office in 2018 was sentenced Thursday to federal prison.
Isaiah Paillett, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak to two years after pleading guilty to the charges in January. He originally pleaded not guilty in 2019.
On Dec. 14, 2018, Paillett entered the Pittsburgh office and became irate and confrontational with an employee, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Scott Brady.
After leaving the building, Paillett tried to reenter, officials said, but was stopped by a security guard. Paillett shoved the guard several feet and a second guard began pushing him out of the building. Officials said Paillett then started punching the second security guard in the head.
According to sentencing papers submitted by Paillett’s attorney Komron Maknoon, of Pittsburgh-based Maknoon & Associates, Paillett tried to reenter the building to get his payee when the first security guard “positioned himself in an aggressive stance and offensive touching,” causing Paillett to become defensive.
After Paillett shoved the guard due to “unwanted physical contact,” papers read, the second guard charged him, forcing him out of the building. Paillett punched the guard, causing a small laceration. Once the guards stopped fighting, Paillett did as well, Maknoon said, noting that neither guard provided an explanation or attempted to deescalate the situation.
Prosecutors asked for a sentence of 24 to 30 months based on Paillett’s offense level and criminal history.
“Unfortunately, this is merely the most recent occasion on which Paillett has resorted to violence and harmed those whom, knowingly or not, become an object of his anger,” they wrote in sentencing papers dated May 20.
He was previously convicted for aggravated assault, armed robbery and possessing a gun as a felon.
After Paillett serves two years in prison, he will serve another two years under supervised release.
