Portland police Officer James
Botaitis waits in court Friday for his arraignment on charges of second-degree
assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree burglary and harassment.
A Portland police officer was
sentenced Thursday to 15 days on a work crew for threatening his estranged
wife’s boyfriend in her Vancouver apartment.
James Botaitis, 40, of Yacolt
pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court Judge David Gregerson’s courtroom
to gross misdemeanor harassment and possession of a deadly weapon in exchange
for reduced charges.
He will receive credit for one day
served in jail.
Botaitis’ attorney, Josephine
Townsend, said the plea agreement resulted from new information that Botaitis’
wife had been untruthful about what happened on the night Botaitis threatened
her boyfriend, who is a registered sex offender.
Botaitis initially was charged with
second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree burglary and
harassment for entering his wife’s apartment Oct. 24, 2011, and threatening her
boyfriend, David Bacus. Botaitis and his wife are now divorced.
Botaitis is a nearly 12-year veteran
of the Portland Police Bureau. He was placed on paid administrative leave and
surrendered his police-related powers during the court case.
Pete Simpson, a Portland police
spokesman, said the conclusion of the court case means the police bureau now
can conduct an internal investigation. That investigation will help the police
bureau decide whether Botaitis may return to his duties, Simpson said.