Springfield police officer Steven Buzzell, convicted of stealing $2,000 from farm workers during traffic stop, loses appeal

Buzzell argued he should have been allowed to tell the jury that the workers were illegal immigrants. Watch video

File photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanSpringfield police officer Steven Buzzell is seen in Hampden Superior Court in 2009 during his trial for stealing nearly $2,000 from three Mexican farm workers during a traffic stop.

SPRINGFIELD– A Springfield police officer convicted of stealing nearly $2,000 from three Mexican farm workers during a traffic stop has lost a bid to overturn his conviction based on his argument that he should have been allowed to tell the jury the workers were illegal immigrants.

Officer Steven Buzzell was convicted of larceny in 2009 and sentenced to three to four years in state prison.

In his appeal, Buzzell argued that during cross-examination at his trial, he should have been allowed to bring out the fact that the three tobacco workers he stopped were undocumented immigrants. Buzzell contended that would have shown the workers’ bias and undermined their credibility.

The state Appeals Court agreed with the trial judge that such questioning would be irrelevant. The ruling was issued Tuesday.

More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.