DALLAS -- A Dallas police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor assault in connection with 2011 assault on his estranged wife.
Senior Cpl. Kristoffer Lewis received two years probation in a plea deal with prosecutors. A jury had been selected and the trial was about to start when Lewis accepted the plea deal.
Lewis was recommended for termination last week and he now awaits a hearing before Police Chief David Brown. Since he pleaded guilty, he almost certainly will be fired.
Last week's recommendation for termination came days after the chief acknowledged to News 8 that it was a mistake not to have already set Lewis' case for a disciplinary hearing. News 8 reported last week that no disciplinary action had been taken, even though internal affairs investigators sustained several allegations against Lewis nearly two years ago over a 2011 confrontation with his wife.
'We made a mistake. We should have scheduled this case for a disciplinary hearing sooner. There is no excuse, and we regret our error,' the chief said in an e-mail.
Starr Lewis, Lewis's wife, previously told News 8 in exclusive interview that she was frustrated with the department's handling of her husband's case. She said Thursday she is pleased to see the department taking action.
Lewis was accused of slamming his wife's head into a door frame and punching her in the back.
He also faced a separate charge of violation of a protective order. In that case, he was accused of sending threatening text messages to her, including one in which he admits to punching her and said he plans to plead guilty, according to court records.
It is unclear what will happen with the other case.
E-mail teiserer@wfaa.com
