Last week, a Lyon County jury found Eric Hawkins not guilty of rape and aggravated sexual battery after two women stepped forward, accusing him of touching them inappropriately. On Monday, Hawkins pleaded no contest to simple battery in the case of a third accuser.
The battery count was an alternate to a sexual battery charge filed by prosecutors after a then-32-year-old woman accused Hawkins a year ago of inappropriate touching in 2015. The sex battery charge was dropped as part of the plea, and Judge Merlin Wheeler also removed any travel restrictions as he reset Hawkins’ bond to $1,000 own-recognizance before accepting the plea.
Hawkins could face a maximum of six months imprisonment, $1,000 fine or a combination of both. Sentencing is at 10 am Nov. 15. Trial was originally supposed to start Monday. After Friday’s verdicts, the trial was tentatively slated to begin Tuesday if the plea agreement had not been reached.
