A former Chicago police sergeant charged in an alleged sexual assault…

A former Chicago police sergeant who faced up to life in federal prison on charges stemming from the alleged on-duty sexual assault of a transgender woman pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor civil rights violation that could mean he avoids jail time.

James Sajdak, 65, entered his plea to a misdemeanor count of violating the victim’s civil rights on March 5, 2019, in a hearing before U.S. District Judge John Tharp

Sajdak, who retired from the force four years ago, had been scheduled to go to trial on a felony civil rights charge this week.

Instead of proceeding to trial, the U.S. attorney’s office amended the one-page indictment to a misdemeanor, striking specific allegations about kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.

Sajdak faces up to a year in prison but would also be a candidate for probation. Tharp set a sentencing date of Feb. 23.

His attorney, Tim Grace, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Grace previously had said Sajdak was a recipient of the…