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Last updated on Friday, September 25, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - A suspended Indianapolis Metro Police officer once facing attempted murder for shooting a blank round at his live-in girlfriend in 2014 was offered a plea deal.
Justin Beaton was charged with attempted murder, domestic battery and other charges. As part of a plea deal, Beaton will be charged with criminal recklessness instead of attempted murder. He faces a maximum of six years in prison.
Prosecutors say Beaton's girlfriend was uncooperative and wouldn't testify against Beaton.
Beaton was ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend, but the two reconciled and she became pregnant by Beaton a second time. The couple already have a toddler together.
Beaton got additional more trouble when authorities say he tampered with his GPS bracelet and drank alcohol while on house arrest. A judge denied his bond after that, forcing Beaton to stay in jail until his trial, which started this week.
Investigators say Beaton fired a blank round at his girlfriend's head while their 7-month-old baby was in the room. The incident happened in August 2014, according to court documents. A neighbor had called 911 to say they saw blood all over the couple's driveway.
Beaton's girlfriend was hospitalized after the incident and investigators claim Beaton forced her to lie and say her injuries happened in an accident. He allegedly threatened to take their son away if she told the truth.
Beaton's girlfriend went to police in February 2015 to recant the story she told investigators in August after she ended up in the hospital with severe facial injuries. Investigators alleged Beaton shot Payne with a blank round as she stood outside the front door of their home
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