DeCoatsworth pleads guilty to lesser charges in sexual assaults

PHILADELPHIA - February 25, 2014

DeCoatsworth pleaded guilty to Promoting Prostitution, Possession and Distribution of Illegal Narcotics, and Simple Assault.

More than 30 charges were dropped, including rape and involuntary sexual intercourse.

DeCoatsworth has been in jail for the past ten months, held on $3-million bail. He will be sentenced in two weeks and could face 7 to 14 years in prison.

The former Philadelphia Police officer was arrested back in May 2013 and charged with Rape, Indecent Deviant Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Assault and other offenses after authorities said he drugged and raped two women and forced them into prostitution.

He was also charged with an assault on his girlfriend.

DeCoatsworth was hailed as a hero police officer after he was shot in the face during a traffic stop in September 2007 but still managed to chase after his attacker, who was later sentenced to 36 to 72 years in prison.

It was an act of valor that got him an invitation from Vice President Joe Biden to attend the president's televised February 2009 address to Congress and a seat next to First Lady Michelle Obama.

DeCoatsworth later retired from the police department on disability in December 2011.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.