Trial for former police officer set to begin Oct. 2
DANVILLE – A former Belgium police officer accused of using his position to sexually assault several women is scheduled to be tried in Vermilion County Circuit Court next week, but not on all of the 49 charges he faces.
Instead, David L. Lewis, 45, of Lafayette, Ind., will first stand trial on four counts of official misconduct, two counts of criminal sexual abuse and two counts of armed violence, stemming from allegations made by one of a number of women. The jury trial is set for Oct. 2-4.
"I have every intention to proceed," Special Prosecutor Michael Vujovich said.
Danville attorney Mark Christoff, who represents Lewis, added he's "absolutely" ready to begin, too.
Earlier in July, a judge granted a motion by Christoff to sever the charges so his client could have separate trials for each of the alleged victims. Vujovich, an attorney with the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Office, said he had no problem with that.
Altogether, Lewis' charges include 21 counts of official misconduct, 10 counts of armed violence, seven counts of criminal sexual assault, seven counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, three counts of criminal sexual abuse; and one count of obstructing justice.
Prosecutors said between September 2004 and March 2006, Lewis – while acting in his capacity as a police officer – showed a woman nude photographs, exposed himself to several women, sexually assaulted several women and made them perform sex acts on him, and gave a woman a controlled substance, among other things.
Lewis was a part-time officer in Belgium for about two years until the end of February. He was indicted in April after an investigation by the Vermilion County sheriff's office.
Authorities began investigating Lewis in March 2006, after a woman accused him of assaulting her. They said they discovered 12 victims in their probe. They think Lewis knew all of his victims and did not select them randomly.
Lewis remains behind bars at the Danville Public Safety Building on a $250,000 bond, meaning he would have to post $25,000 in order to be released.
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