Portland officer gets 15 days for pulling gun on estranged wife's boyfriend
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - A Portland police officer has been sentenced to 15 days on a work crew for threatening his estranged wife's boyfriend with a gun.
In a plea agreement, 40-year-old James Botaitis of Yacolt, Wash., pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to gross misdemeanor harassment and possession of a deadly weapon.
He had been charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and harassment for entering his wife's apartment Oct. 24, 2011, when he was accused of threatening her boyfriend, who is a registered sex offender.
Defense lawyer Josephine Townsend says investigators learned that the woman had invited Botaitis into her Vancouver apartment and hadn't told him that her boyfriend was there. A court parenting plan barred the boyfriend from contact with Botaitis' young son.
The officer and his wife have since divorced.
Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson says an internal investigation will determine whether the officer can return to duty. He has been on paid administrative leave.
In a plea agreement, 40-year-old James Botaitis of Yacolt, Wash., pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to gross misdemeanor harassment and possession of a deadly weapon.
He had been charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and harassment for entering his wife's apartment Oct. 24, 2011, when he was accused of threatening her boyfriend, who is a registered sex offender.
Defense lawyer Josephine Townsend says investigators learned that the woman had invited Botaitis into her Vancouver apartment and hadn't told him that her boyfriend was there. A court parenting plan barred the boyfriend from contact with Botaitis' young son.
The officer and his wife have since divorced.
Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson says an internal investigation will determine whether the officer can return to duty. He has been on paid administrative leave.
Some chick in Florida got like 30 years for something similiar.
I'm not saying what the officer did was right, but if my x-wife whom I had children with was dating a sex offender, I'd have had a big problem too. In my way of thinking, sex offenders should all be shot on sight. PERIOD!!!
What the hell...What a weird story.
He should have went to trial on this. He didn't get much of a deal considered he was invited inside. The possession of a deadly weapon is totally bogus since he legally possessed it. He should not have agreed to anything except brandishing a deadly weapon. He obviously has an overaxctive conscious and got steam rolled by an over-eager prosecutor.
This woman's got great taste in men! Â From a hot head to a registered Sex Offender trying to get close to her kid. Â Good Job Mom!
I can see why its his ex-wife and its to bad the son is stuck with her...
Being in the same line of work, I tend to agree that what's good for the goose is good for the gander. He should be held to the same standard as any other citizen.
I can also understand his reaction to discovering his kid being in the company of a sex offender. I would question the mettle of any parent that wouldn't have had the same reaction given the same set of circumstances.
I'm of the opinion that the officer showed a measure of restraint it not shooting this worthless individual.  Sounds like the woman in this story lives for big drama.Â
An adulterous woman, according to scripture, is like a death trap.
If you don't like your ex and you have kids, the best way to make them mad is to date a sex offender and let them in your house. Â The mother is sure not thinking of the kids, and the dad is freaking out with a wild imagination right now.Â
This is an example of someone people think should have a gun? Citizens of course do not "need one", but this loose cannon can have one huh?
He has no business being on the force, period. He doesn't belong behind any kind of badge because he doesn't respect or follow the laws that he is supposed to uphold and administer. I wouldn't trust him as a minimum wage mall rent-a-cop, much less responding to a DV assault case.
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@al_wa @the unvarnished truth yeah I read the story... here's the deal. Gun crime. Automatic felony. 15 YEARS, not 15 days. You don't like it?? tuff.... Stop making excuses and accept responsibility.Â
If he returns to work, he should not be allowed to possess a gun. If one of us civilians did something like that.... good-bye to the guns.
@Bornhere  I agree he should no longer be allowed to possess a gun but that would PRECLUDE him from ever going back to work as a LEO since they are REQUIRED to carry a gun. Its time for him to find alternate employment.