Ex-Long Beach officer convicted of beating wife

A former Long Beach police officer was convicted Tuesday of more than a dozen felonies for assaulting his wife at their Pico Rivera home with a belt, flashlight and police-issue baton.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court jury, composed of eight women and four men, deliberated a day before convicting Brandon Preciado, 30, of 13 felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, corporal injury to a spouse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats. He was also convicted of several misdemeanors, authorities said.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Preciado, while a Long Beach officer, repeatedly choked, beat and threatened his wife, a 911 operator, between Sept. 18, 2011, and Jan. 12, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

During the first attack, Preciado threatened his wife, a mother of three, with a metal flashlight, then wrapped a belt around her neck, according to prosecutors. In an attack in November, she was left with a bloody nose after being held in a headlock, prosecutors said. She was again choked on New Year’s Day, authorities said.

Days later, prosecutors said, he punched her with his fist and struck her with a broom, and then on Jan. 9, hit her repeatedly with his police-issue baton.

On Jan. 12, Preciado’s wife ran to a neighbor’s home with a bloody face after being repeatedly slapped, having her pinky finger bent back and being told to prepare to die, prosecutors said.

Preciado was arrested that day after a five-hour standoff with deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

In police reports and during the preliminary hearing, Preciado’s wife recounted the events in detail. But during the trial, she said she did not remember what occurred.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Amy Pentz, who prosecuted the case, said Preciado faces about 20 years in state prison when he is sentenced Oct. 29. He is being held without bail. Preciado was removed from the payroll of the Long Beach Police Department before the criminal trial.

richard.winton@latimes.com