Cop Accused Of Beating Friend Of Girlfriend In South Bay

IRVINE, CA — An Irvine police officer pleaded 'not guilty' Thursday to assault and battery charges stemming from an alleged off-duty attack in Torrance on a male friend of his girlfriend last summer.

Paul George Gebert, 33, is charged with one felony count each of assault with force likely to cause significant bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.

Gebert went to his girlfriend's home in Torrance while off-duty, saw the man on the couch and allegedly began beating him, inflicting severe injuries, last July 8, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Gebert is on administrative leave from the Irvine Police Department, and there is an ongoing personnel investigation, said Kim Mohr, the department's communications manager.

Gebert -- who is free on $30,000 bail -- will return to the downtown Los Angeles courtroom April 30, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

If convicted as charged, he could face up to seven years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

City News Service, Patch editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.