Off Duty Sheriff's Deputy Facing Felony Charges

An off-duty sheriff's deputy shot an unarmed man last week, yet now that man is being held onfelony charges by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Aaron Beierschmitt, 24, was taken into custody along with his friend Mark Lewis, 27, on multiple charges. The two men have been accused of making criminal threats and suspicion of assault while they were going through the drive-thru line at Del Taco in East Pasadena.

Lewis and Beierschmitt, along with two unidentified individuals, were behind the sheriff's car in the drive-thru line when they "exited their vehicle and, for unknown reasons, accosted the deputy." According to the statement issued later that week by the Sheriff's Department, the deputy exited his car and shot the two men. Both are expected to survive, having sustained non-life-threatening wounds.

At this time the identity of the off-duty officer is not being released to the press.

If convicted, Beierschmitt could receive up to 16 years in prison, while Lewis could face five years locked up.

Have you been charged with a felony?  If you said yes, now is the time to contact our law office and get help from a Riverside criminal defense attorney.