Assault charges reduced in plea
A Butler man, charged with assaulting his ex-wife's boyfriend, pleaded guilty to the crime in Butler County Court on Wednesday.
Thomas S. Smith, 43, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault before county Judge William Shaffer.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of six months probation, restitution, fines and community service as determined by the judge at sentencing. Smith is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 2.
Smith was initially charged with felony burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of trespass, misdemeanor terroristic threats, simple assault, summary criminal mischief, harassment and criminal trespass after an incident on Feb. 7, 2016.
Three felonies — burglary, criminal trespass and one aggravated assault charge — were withdrawn at the magisterial district court level, and the remaining charges will be withdrawn as part of the plea.
The charges stem from an incident that Butler Township police said occurred at the home in the 200 block of North Duffy Street. Police said Smith, possibly armed with a rock-in-a-sock, broke into the home and beat his ex-wife's sleeping boyfriend, Jonathan Stariat, 40.
Stariat suffered facial injuries and was able to flee to a neighbor's house where he called 911, police said.
During the altercation, Smith allegedly bit the victim's upper back.
Smith was arraigned Feb. 8 with bail set at $2,500, which he posted.
