Area photographer sentenced to probation

A Lewes photographer pleaded guilty July 20 to assaulting his former girlfriend in 2020, and was sentenced to a year of probation.

Kyle Kaminski, 31, of Milton, was charged in February 2021 with two counts of third-degree assault and offensive touching for two incidents in 2020 during which he assaulted a former girlfriend. The girlfriend detailed a two-year abusive relationship that culminated in two incidents – one at New Wave Imagery in Lewes, a photography studio the two co-owned, and the other at the woman’s home.

In court, the woman said Kaminski threatened to kill her, and tried to choke her with his hands and a pillow.

“I wake every night from nightmares and have done so since Sept. 6, 2020, when Kyle knelt on my chest with his full body weight and was choking me. He looked me in the eyes, and he told me he had wished he had cut me up and killed me when he had the chance,” she said. “There should be no next time for Kyle. This abuse ends with me.”

Kaminski pleaded guilty to the two counts of third-degree abuse, and nolle prossed the offensive touching charge, which means the charge was dismissed, but could be brought back at a later date if prosecutors decide to pursue it.

A clean-shaven Kaminski, sitting next to his attorney Christopher Hutchison during a proceeding conducted on Zoom, expressed remorse and wished the victim happiness in life.

“I am absolutely disgusted by my actions, and my character flaws as a man, and I am taking the active decision to better myself for the people around me who care about me, and be the man I know I can be,” he said. “I want to become an active member of the community again.”

Sussex County Court of Common Pleas Judge Rae M. Mims sentenced Kaminski to a year of level 5 prison for each of the charges, suspended for a year of level 2 probation. He is to have no contact with the victim, and is required to undergo anger-management counseling.

Hutchison said Kaminski has been in anger-management counseling since January 2021.

Kaminski was also ordered to pay court costs and fines – about $4,600 total.