No contest plea in Hawthorne pedestrian hit

A Hawthorne motorist who hit an elderly pedestrian, then dragged the injured and screaming woman into her car before leading police on a pursuit, pleaded no contest on Tuesday to kidnapping.

Alexis Lewis, 26, will undergo a 90-day evaluation at the Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, then return to the Airport Courthouse Sept. 2 for sentencing.

She faces anything from probation to five years in prison for the May 4 incident.
As part of her plea deal, prosecutors will drop three child endangerment charge that were filed when officers realized she left her three children, ages 2, 3, and 4, unattended at home during the incident.

Lewis hit the 72-year-old woman at 134th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard about 9 a.m., then forced her into the car, witnesses said.

Officers chased her vehicle to the 12600 block of Eucalyptus Avenue, near Lewis' residence. An evading charge will also be dismissed.