FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The former Flagstaff police officer seen on video punching a woman during a 2016 arrest pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault Tuesday morning.
Jeffrey Bonar was sentenced to 18 months of unsupervised probation and will have to complete an anger management program, 80 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine.
Coconino County Superior Court Judge, Jacqueline Hatch, said in court Tuesday, Bonar will serve no jail time unless he violates his unsupervised probation.
"If Mr. Bonar successfully completes that 18-month probation, then aggravated assault will be dismissed and there will be no charges remaining against Mr. Bonar," Hatch said.
Bonar resigned from the Flagstaff Police Department in January of 2017 rather than being fired for punching Marissa Morris.
Two grand juries indicted Bonar on charges of aggravated assault, twice.
Bonar's felony aggravated assault charge was dismissed as part of the diversion agreement he made with the prosecution.
Marissa Morris’s attorney, Benjamin Taylor, said state prosecutors let Bonar off easy.
“Giving the officer probation and the ability to get this off his record is very weak of the prosecutor … if anybody else on the streets would’ve punched anybody in the face, they’ll be definitely facing assault charges which are felony charges,” Taylor said.
Bonar’s attorney, Marc Victor, said the former officer was happy with the end result.
“We think we got to the right result. Our expectation is that all charges will be entirely dismissed,” Victor said.
Taylor said Morris planned to move forward with her civil suit against Bonar and the City of Flagstaff.