Pretrial for officer postponed to February

A Huntington Beach police officer accused of abusing his wife and girlfriend was expected to begin preliminary trial Monday, but it was postponed to February.

James Roberts III was charged with 17 felony counts after an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County district attorney.

Roberts pleaded not guilty to eight counts of false imprisonment by violence or deceit, three counts of criminal threats, two counts of domestic battery with corporeal injury, two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of dissuading a witness and vandalism. The charges hold a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison.

Roberts is accused of a series of physical abuses against his wife and threatening to kill her at least once. While still married, Roberts allegedly had a girlfriend, whom he is also accused of assaulting.

He has been out on $250,000 bail.

Roberts is expected to go to court for a preliminary trail at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 26 in Courtroom C-55 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

— Britney Barnes