Man who pointed gun at officer is sentenced to prison

Leyland Lewis shot three times after pointing gun at officer

NORMAN — A wanted man who pointed a gun at a Noble police officer and was shot three times was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday.

Lay land Lewis ,39, of Norman, pleaded guilty in March to one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Lewis was wanted on a Cleveland County armed robbery charge when he was shot by Sgt. Joshua Lesher during a traffic stop in December 2018.

Lewis, who was driving a motorcycle with a passenger, refused to obey the officer and pulled out a gun.

“Justice and mercy require this sentence,” District Judge Thad Balkman said. “This was a very very serious crime.”

Prosecutors played three minutes of dash camera and body camera footage from the traffic stop, which showed Lewis unzipping his jacket, pulling out a pistol and pointing it at the officer, who drew his weapon and fired.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Crow es aid Les her attempted to de-escalate the situation by asking Lewis to “please make your way over to my patrol vehicle” instead of handcuffing the suspect in front of his son.

The prosecutor said a wounded Lewis was overheard saying “I should have shot you, pig.”

Les her attended the sentencing and said the incident“changed my life completely.” The officer said he struggles with anxiety and PTSD.

“If I had waited a half second longer I wouldn' t be here today,” he told the judge .“This is something I hope nobody else has to go through.”

Lewis' attorney said his client had just gone through a divorce, was using drugs and was running away from the robbery charge when he intended to commit suicide by cop.

The defense attorney called it an “act of cowardice.”

Lewis was found guilty of armed robbery last year and is serving a 10- year prison sentence. Balkman decided Lewis will serve the sentences consecutively.