Boston police officer sentenced to one year in sex coercion case

BOSTON --A former Boston police office was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison for violating the civil rights of a woman by coercing her into performing a sex act.

Michael LoPriore, 37, of Everett, pleaded guilty in December under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. As part of the agreement, he agreed to resign from the police force and never seek another job as a police officer in Massachusetts.

Federal prosecutors said LoPriore, a 12-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, was off duty when he approached a prostitute in Boston in 2004, showed her his badge and drove her in his personal car to Quincy, where he threatened to arrest her unless she performed a sex act.

LoPriore apologized during a sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock.

"It's a disappointing moment in my client's life. It's very sad. He's looking to move on to the next phase of his life," said LoPriore's attorney, Thomas Drechsler.

LoPriore is scheduled to begin serving his sentence April 20.