Former Lake County councilman sentenced to probation in 3rd domestic violence case

Washington, 51, pleaded guilty to felony criminal confinement and misdemeanor domestic battery of former Gary city councilwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade. Washington admitted in the plea he struck Sparks-Wade and held her against her will during an argument at her home between Jan. 29 and 30, 2019 and threw a phone at her lip, causing injury.

"Everybody in Jamal's orbit knew he was guilty," Sparks-Wade said. "That it took five years and seven months to exact some form of justice was an unbelievable burden on me and my family." Sparks-Wade had not been able to speak about the case since December 2019, when a judge granted a gag order that prohibited her and anyone else involved in the case from speaking about it until it concluded.



"I've already forgiven him," Sparks-Wade said. "And I get to move on." Sparks-Wade said she attended Friday's hearing and the first portion of Washington's sentencing July 19.

He was supposed to be sentenced at the first hearing, but when Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota heard a victim impact statement from Sparks-Wade, she said she was unsure if she could accept the plea agreement and set the remainder of the hearing to Friday's date. "Jamal is a liar," Sparks-Wade said. "As a classic narcissist, he will lie to support his position.

He's very believable." Sparks-Wade said she was not thrilled that he escaped prison time, as he did in two previous domestic violence cases. "He should have gotten jail time," she said.

"My disappointment was in the prosecution who did not believe in the case and the evidence." A jury found Washington guilty of misdemeanor domestic battery and interference with reporting a crime in November 2018 after he assaulted his cousin in 2017 during a dispute at his Merrillville home. He was found not guilty of multiple felony offenses.

He avoided prison time and was sentenced to probation , online court records show. Sparks-Wade said she supported Washington during that case. She said it was because she didn't know his true character.

"But I know now," she said. "And I know what he's capable of." Washington pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in another battery case in 2016, this one involving his ex-wife and a female employee.

He received one year in jail suspended on probation, online court records show. Sparks-Wade said she did believe "justice prevailed" in that he pleaded guilty to a felony charge in her case as opposed to only getting misdemeanor treatment in the past. "It's liberating, it's empowering, and it's vindicating," Wade said.

Wade said she believes the justice system needs to change for victims. "I have a great support system," Sparks-Wade said. "But for other victims that may not or be less resourceful, I just hope that they can get out (of the relationship) now.

" She said she didn't have the power to stand up to him at the time. "But now, I have no fear of him or any other abuser," Sparks-Wade said. "I know how you feel when you're in a relationship where you feel you have no choice.

Where you have no voice. You're being controlled by a person who said they love you. "Domestic violence knows no creed, color, gender, socioeconomic status.

It is a deceiver.".