Probation For Banning Man Who Beat His Girlfriend

BANNING, CA — A 43-year-old Banning man who severely beat his girlfriend in front of her young son and later threatened her in an attempt to keep her quiet pleaded guilty Monday to domestic violence and witness intimidation and was immediately sentenced to three years of felony probation.

Nicholas Gilles Lacasse admitted the charges under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dismissed five related felony and misdemeanor counts against Lacasse.

Superior Court Judge Francisco Navarro certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense. In addition to probation, the judge ordered the defendant to serve five months in a sheriff's work release program in lieu of jail, meaning Lacasse will be required to maintain employment, provide volunteer services or attend an educational program full time.

Navarro also directed the defendant to complete a 52-week domestic violence rehabilitation program and not have any further contact with the victim or her children.

Lacasse was arrested March 7 following a roughly eight-month-long Banning Police Department investigation.

According to police, the first attack happened last Fourth of July in Newport Beach, followed by additional abuse at the couple's residence on Ramsey Street in Banning.

Investigators said a senior was also assaulted by the defendant, but no specific charges connected with that incident were included in the criminal complaint.

Specific details regarding the abuse were not disclosed by police, but the complaint said Lacasse inflicted an "injury resulting in a traumatic condition" on his girlfriend.

Court papers said her 11-year-old son was exposed to "pain and mental suffering" because of what occurred.

The circumstances behind the defendant's attempts to silence the woman were not divulged.

According to authorities, the investigation did not begin until sometime after the attacks in July, but sufficient evidence was ultimately gathered to justify an arrest warrant.

Lacasse had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.