An alleged Butler burglar who is defending himself in court saw all his charges held at a Monday preliminary hearing.

Brian J. Vlassich, 41, appeared in person before District Judge William Fullerton. He had been transported from Butler County Prison, where he remains in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Vlassich decided to defend himself against the three felony and four misdemeanor charges he is facing.

Vlassich is charged with felonies of burglary, attempted burglary and aggravated assault. He also is charged with misdemeanors of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an vehicle crash and a first-offense DUI.

Butler City Officer Nathan Shulik testified about the night Vlassich allegedly broke into an apartment on the 300 block of South Main Street, running his truck into that building and later resisting arrest.

Shulik said police were called to the apartment building, and dispatchers reported a man hitting the door with an aluminum baseball bat.

“He hit it approximately 30 times, trying to gain entry,” Shulik said.

Shulik said residents of the apartment told officers Vlassich pushed in an air conditioning unit and began climbing through it, unsuccessfully.

“The window was too small,” Shulik said.

According to Shulik, Vlassich then got into his truck, backed it into the building and drove home.

During cross-examination, Vlassich asked the officer if anyone saw him entering, exiting or driving the truck in question. Shulik said witnesses submitted written statements.

Vlassich asked if he had a right to cross-examine the witnesses. Fullerton said the witness' written testimony alone was sufficient for a preliminary hearing.

Further elaborating on other charges, Shulik said Vlassich resisted that officer, and while being transported to jail continued to cause problems in the cruiser and later at the jail.

Shulik said Vlassich was argumentative with police and flooded his cell, even warning officers he would do so.

“He made a comment that he was going to make a mess of the place,” Shulik said. “He continued to flood the cell several times.”

Vlassich has pending charges from a June incident, involving misdemeanors of DUI, resisting arrest and institutional vandalism. That case is in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, and Vlassich had been released on a $15,000 bond from that case, until his arrest Aug. 20.

Following Fullerton's decision to hold all charges for county court, Vlassich asked for his new bond to be reduced. He said he could not post the current amount, and he wants to be released to seek an attorney for future proceedings.

Fullerton denied that request, citing a concern with Vlassich's violation of the previous bond.

Vlassich is scheduled to appear Oct. 18 for a formal arraignment in county court.