Man sentenced for domestic battery
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 11 months AGO
Philip Lemieux
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | November 13, 2020 1:00 AM
A man is in jail after pleading guilty to domestic battery.
Philip A. Lemieux, 21, pleaded guilty to the charge last week. In Idaho, domestic battery is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The charge stems from December 2019, when police responded to a domestic dispute call at a Coeur d’Alene residence.
A woman who identified herself as Lemieux’s ex-girlfriend said Lemieux had forced unwanted physical contact on her. The pair had broken up but still shared a residence.
She reportedly showed police videos she had recorded on her phone that showed Lemieux swearing at her and touching her despite her protests while she held their one-month-old son.
She also told police Lemieux had kissed and groped her without her consent, according to court records, and that he had put his hands around her neck and squeezed on multiple occasions.
Lemieux reportedly told police the pair had argued because he believed she drove home drunk with their child in the car. Police said the woman showed no obvious signs of impairment.
Police cited and released Lemieux for domestic battery in the presence of a child, according to court documents, and helped the woman gather her things so she could leave the residence with the child.
Lemieux allegedly asked the officer questioning him if he would still be able to purchase firearms after receiving a citation for domestic violence.
When police followed up with the woman, she allegedly said Lemieux had made repeated unwanted advances since the two broke up. She also reportedly said Lemieux had threatened to rape and beat her and showed police documentation of prior incidents.
After he was cited by police, Lemieux allegedly sent the woman a Facebook message in which he tried to persuade her to drop the domestic battery charge, according to court documents.
Police sought a warrant for Lemieux’s arrest, which Judge Anna Eckhart issued, according to court documents. Eckhart also issued a no contact order between Lemieux and the woman.
Lemieux reportedly pleaded guilty to domestic battery as part of a pretrial settlement offer.
Judge Clark Peterson sentenced Lemieux late last week to 180 days in jail. Peterson also ordered two years of supervised probation and a $500 fine.
The no contact order remains in effect.
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