Dennis Lewis has spent a long time placing individuals in jail for committing crimes.
Most lately, the 56-year-old Fresno County prosecutor was accountable for the gang unit on the DA’s workplace.
However his project modified after CHP investigators put his workplace on discover that he was below investigation for a December 18 hit-and-run at China Peak.
A CHP spokesman would not give Motion Information many particulars, however mentioned they decided Lewis was the driving force throughout a collision that brought on property injury.
“That is what it finally was described to him as – possibly autos rubbing and possibly a bump and a few paint switch, however not a crash that resulted in something apparent,” mentioned protection legal professional Martin Taleisnik.
The Fresno County DA’s workplace handed off the case to the Tulare County DA’s workplace. Prosecutors there filed a misdemeanor hit-and-run case towards Lewis.
Taleisnik says it comes as a shock to Lewis.
He says no one who was within the automobile remembers any collision and no one has instructed Lewis who to contact to pay for repairs.
“He has indicated that he desires to make it proper to anyone that may hear,” Taleisnik mentioned.
Lewis is a daily at China Peak and he is concerned with the junior ski staff.
The resort’s proprietor tells Motion Information he had no concept there was a collision on their property they usually did not have surveillance cameras on the time.
Taleisnik says he does not have police studies but, however what he has heard does not add up.
“Simply to place his integrity and repute on the road for one thing that will’ve been dealt with by insurance coverage, it simply does not make sense,” he mentioned.
The punishment for a misdemeanor hit-and-run is not more than six months in jail.
Authorized analyst Tony Capozzi says they usually resolve with none conviction if the defendant pays to restore any injury.
However he says this case could also be seen by means of a special lens.
“The particular person accused on this state of affairs is a deputy district legal professional with an excellent repute,” Capozzi mentioned. “For one thing like this to occur is unlucky and I feel it is one thing that may be labored out. I am unsure the fees ought to even have been filed. However once you’re within the public eye, you are handled a bit otherwise.”
Lewis is because of make his first courtroom look in April.
Copyright © 2022 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
