Judge upholds convictions of ex-prison guards

PROVIDENCE—A judge has upheld the assault convictions of two former guards at the Rhode Island state prison.

Kenneth Viveiros and Gualter Botas were convicted Aug. 1 of assaulting four inmates at the minimum-security building of the state prison in Cranston.

The guards had asked the trial judge to review their convictions, but Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini on Friday ruled that the jury was presented with evidence to support guilty verdicts.

Both men, who have been fired from the Adult Correctional Institutions, remain free on bail.

Procaccini set sentencing for Sept. 25.