Ex-Oxnard Officer Gets Probation in Domestic Case

A former Oxnard police officer was sentenced Thursday to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to criminal charges stemming from a fight with his estranged wife last year.

James “Steve” Adams, 32, pleaded guilty in November to making felony terrorist threats against his wife and to misdemeanor child endangerment and two misdemeanor battery charges.

As part of his plea, Adams admitted threatening his wife outside his parents’ Oxnard home June 5 and traumatizing his 7-year-old daughter, who witnessed the incident, authorities said.

He also admitted battering his brother and a family friend, both of whom tried to intervene in the argument, authorities said.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop two additional battery charges.

At a sentencing hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge Edward F. Brodie also agreed to reduce the felony threats charge to a misdemeanor, sparing Adams a possible one-year jail sentence.

Under the terms of his probation, Adams must attend 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and pay $500 to funds that assist victims of domestic abuse.

At the time of the June dispute, Adams was on medical leave from the Oxnard Police Department because of a back injury he suffered on the job, authorities said. Adams has since taken a medical retirement. He worked for the department for six years.