In a previous post, we mentioned that the newly elected Sheriff of San Francisco has become entangled in allegations of domestic abuse involving his wife on New Year's Eve. At the time we wrote that post, the District Attorney's office was still determining whether charges would be pursued in the case.

Well things developed quickly, because on Thursday Sheriff Mirkarimi pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness. Interestingly, the Sheriff's wife was present at the hearing to criticize the judge for her handling of the case.

Reuters reports that the Sheriff's wife insisted without effect that the judge in charge of Mirkarimi's case drop an order preventing her husband from having contact with both her and the couple's 2-year-old son.

The incident reportedly involved a dispute between the Sheriff and his Venezuelan wife about her plans to take their son on a trip to Venezuela. At some point in the argument, she ran outside the couple's home into the street and showed a neighbor a bruise on her arm. The neighbor reportedly made a video of the injury and provided it to police, despite the objections of the Sheriff's wife.

According to prosecutors, the Sheriff's wife expressed fear of her husband, who allegedly threatened to take their son away from his wife.

As we have noted, Mirkarimi has said that the incident was a private matter, which has brought on the criticism of those who say such a view demonstrates a lack of understanding of the nature of domestic violence. Mirkarimi's spokesman has said, though, that he was referring only to his situation, not domestic violence in general.

The case is reportedly set for a family court hearing on Monday.

Source: Reuters, "San Francisco sheriff pleads not guilty to spousal abuse," Laird Harrison, January 20, 2012.