Ex-Texas lieutenant governor ‘not interested’ in pressing charges against girlfriend arrested for assault

Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) said Wednesday he is “not interested” in pressing charges against his girlfriend after she allegedly assaulted him on multiple occasions.

Dewhurst, 74, was treated for two fractured ribs after his live-in girlfriend, Leslie Caron, 40, allegedly abused him for several days, local ABC affiliate KTRK reported.

Caron was charged with felony counts of injury to the elderly and is currently held in Harris County Jail. Her bond is set at $10,000, according to a report from KBTX.

A spokesperson for Dewhurst confirmed that he is not interested in pressing additional charges on Caron.

“I’m not interested in filing any charges against Leslie,” the spokesperson said of Dewhurst in a statement to KTRK. “She’s a remarkable woman with many fine attributes. I wish her all the best in life.”

Court records obtained by KTRK show that Caron on May 17 allegedly threw a pot at Dewhurst that hit his elbow. It also reported that Caron alleged scratched and bit him.

Two days later, records indicate Dewhurst reportedly had chest pains and went to get X-rays at a local doctor’s office, revealing the fractured ribs.

According to the records, Caron denied the assault allegations and said that Dewhurst’s injuries came from moving items around at his warehouse. 

She allegedly told an officer that Dewhurst also assaulted her, showing a bruise on her arm and claiming that he strangled her, the report added.

In an image she provided to the officer, redness could be seen along her neck, although court records said the officer found that the redness was not consistent and did not indicate she was strangled, according to KTRK.

Dewhurst was born in Houston and was reelected twice as the lieutenant governor of Texas from 2003 to 2015.

He lost the Republican primary to Dan Patrick in November 2014, and also lost a 2012 run for the U.S. Senate seat that was ultimately granted to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).