Deputies Accused of Beating Firefighter Plead Guilty
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 2:48 PM PDT
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oshua Titel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, while Brian Richards pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery count, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor count stemming from the off-duty beating of a firefighter in San Dimas in June 2007.
Joshua Titel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, while Brian Richards pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery count, according to the District Attorney's Office. The deputies, who are both 32 years old, were immediately sentenced to three years probation.
Norwalk Superior Court Judge Beverly Reid O'Connell also ordered Titel to perform 200 hours of community service, complete a one-year anger management program, attend 52 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and not to own or possess a firearm during his probation.
Richards was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Both men were ordered to return to court July 2 for a hearing on how much restitution they will have to pay the victim, who authorities said underwent several weeks of medical treatment.
The two were indicted last September by a Los Angeles County grand jury in connection with the attack, during which the victim was beaten and kicked. All three men were off-duty at the time.
Titel and Richards have been relieved of duty without pay since the criminal case was filed, said Steve Whitmore of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
An internal affairs investigation is expected to be conducted to determine what their final status with the Sheriff's Department will be, according to Whitmore.
