A former Summit Academy juvenile delinquent who tried to become physically intimate with his therapist will spend 11 to 23 months in the Butler County Prison for strangling her last summer.

“As I was being strangled, I remember thinking he is going to kill me,” Ashley Mahler said on Thursday during the sentencing of her attacker, Zyrees Yotize Downing, 19, of Delaware in Butler court.

She recounted that her neck and jaw were stiff and she still worries about the long-term damage to that area.

“People see me as a victim, not as a strong, competent human being and that has hurt me the most,” she said.

Mahler had recently started counseling Downing at the time of the attack in July.

“I gave you my full attention, empathy,” Mahler said as Downing, who has been in Butler County Prison since his arrest after the attack, stood by his lawyer. “You told me things you've never told anybody.”

On July 10, Downing was in Mahler's office for a counseling session, according to the police report. Downing “expressed his feelings toward” Mahler, but she rebuffed his advances, explaining the feeling was not mutual. Downing then attempted to hug Mahler and she told him “no.” He then put her in a chokehold, and when Mahler attempted to scream, he covered her mouth with his hand.

Mahler was able to momentarily break free, but Downing stopped her from leaving the room and he locked the door. He continued to attack her and used the purse strap around her torso to choke her. Other staff members finally entered the room, ending the attack.

“I advocated for you and you returned the favor by terrorizing and humiliating me,” Mahler told Downing. “I'll never know what your intentions were. Did you wish to keep going? Did you want to rape me? Kill me?”

Downing was initially charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. On April 11, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a second degree felony. Along with Downing's jail sentence, he must serve two years of probation.

“He is beyond regrettable for this and accepts responsibility,” said Kimberly Hudak, Downing's lawyer. “He's only 19 years old. He's never had a chance. Send him to state prison and he'll be marked forever.”

Downing said, “I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I'm just trying to get a second chance.”

Judge Timothy McCune, presiding over the sentencing, decided to keep Downing in county jail instead of sending him to state prison.

“I'm going to give you an opportunity to change your life,” McCune said.

Mahler left Downing with these parting words:

“I want you to know that I wasn't a scared little girl. I took one day off after the attack and got back to work,” she said. “You, Zyrees, are nothing. I refuse to let someone so insignificant like you steer my life. This is a goodbye. You are simply a lesson learned. Nothing more.”