One Defendant In Peery Case Pleads Guilty

One of three men charged in the beating of an Oklahoma City police officer pleads guilty.

Thirty-one-year-old Cadmio Antonio Lopez entered a plea of guilty to assault and battery with force as is likely to cause death Thursday. 

Lopez was charged along with Joshua B. Rinken, 28, and Jimmy Dan Smith, 28, in the beating of Officer Chad Peery at Dan O'Brien's Public House in Oklahoma City.

Peery was off-duty when he attempted to eject the three men who had become unruly.  He suffered a broken neck in the ensuing altercation.  Peery is now paralyzed.

A sentencing date of January 27, 2011 has been set for Lopez.  He faces a sentence of up to life in prison.  Due to the nature of the charge, he will have to serve at least 85 percent of whatever sentence he receives before he is eligible for parole. 

Rinken and Smith are due to be tried February 13, 2012.

7/11/2011 Related Story: Judge Denies Bond For Man Accused Of Beating, Paralyzing OKC Police Officer