CHICORA — A Butler man with a history of violent offenses will see a charge of strangulation move toward a trial following a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Since 2006, Keith P. Reges, 34, has pleaded guilty to violent offenses in six cases. Four of those cases were for simple assault, one of an inmate possessing a weapon and one of disorderly conduct for fighting.

In Butler County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bond, Keith P. Reges, 35, appeared before District Judge Lewis Stoughton, who moved forward all new charges against him to Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Those charges include one felony count strangulation and one misdemeanor count of simple assault. One felony count of aggravated assault also was added and moved forward Tuesday.

Reges’ accuser, Judith Hetrick, testified that Reges had been living at her home with her daughter, his girlfriend, at the time. She said on April 25 she asked Reges to leave because he had allowed his dog and a friend to start living in her home too, against her wishes.

She said Reges pushed her down on the couch, choked her with both hands, then paused.

"I said something to him like, ‘I treat you as one of my kids,’ and that set him off,“ said Hetrick, who claimed Reges then resumed strangling her. ”It was enough that I was getting very close to passing out.“

Assistant District Attorney David Beichner showed photographs taken by police the night of the attack. He said they showed bruising and marks on Hetrick’s neck.

On her client’s behalf, public defender Jennifer Popovich opposed the new charge. She said the specific charges call for severe injuries to be involved.

“The witness testified the injuries were not severe enough to seek medical treatment,” Popovich said.

After reading the specifics of the charge, Stoughton emphasized its use of the words “attempt to cause serious bodily injury.”

“I don’t know what was in your client’s mind at the time, but being that people get choked to death all the time, I’d call that serious injury,” Stoughton said.

Reges has been charged with strangulation before, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

In April 2021, he was charged with strangling and beating his then-girlfriend in a Butler apartment. In January, Reges was sentenced to serve 6 to 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor simple assault.

In the most recent case, Reges is scheduled to appear next for formal arraignment July 26 in county court.