A Spring Valley Police Department officer turned down a plea deal Tuesday that would have given him prison time for the alleged sexual abuse of women while on the job.

David Lebron, who is suspended from the department, is preparing to go to trial rather than serve the one-year prison term. "We feel he's innocent," said defense attorney Richard Murray. "We don't think that they have a case."

The defense filed a motion Tuesday in Rockland County Court to examine the record of the grand jury proceedings that ultimately led to the 15-year police veteran being indicted.

Murray believes the case against his client is in response to discrimination charges that Lebron had levied against the police department. "I think the filing of these criminal charges is certainly coincidental and raises some very serious issues as to whether these charges are in retaliation for that civil action," Murray said.

Lebron allegedly assaulted immigrant women while responding to 911 calls. He is also accused of falsifying police records, which implicated other officers, to cover his tracks.

The defense maintains Lebron is only guilty of sloppy paperwork. He is due back in court Feb. 13. No trial date has been set.

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