A Baltimore, Md., man was sentenced Friday, Oct. 31, to serve three-and-a-half to seven years in prison and ordered to register with police as a sexually violent predator for the rest of his life after pleading guilty to strangulation and indecent assault charges.

Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Kubit sentenced David V. McDonald, 64, in accordance with a plea agreement McDonald reached with the district attorney’s office in July that includes 36 months of probation after his release from prison.

McDonald pleaded guilty to a felony count of strangulation, and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and assault filed by Butler Township police for attempting to sexually assault a massage therapy employee on May 30, 2023.

Indecent assault is a Tier 2 offense under Megan’s Law and Kubit found McDonald to be a sexually violent predator at a hearing held before Friday’s sentencing hearing, according to court records.

Township police responded to Asia Bodywork, a massage therapy business on New Castle Road, just after 9 p.m. for reports of an assault of an employee.

Through interviews and viewing surveillance footage, police said it was determined a man, later identified as McDonald, entered the building and requested a one-hour massage at 8:19 p.m.

The employee told police she began the massage, which is conducted while customers are wearing only a towel, and asked McDonald if it was “OK.”

He then grabbed the employee’s wrist, forced her onto the massage table and a struggle ensued, according to an affidavit.

The employee said McDonald was attempting to touch her inappropriately before she fled the room.

McDonald, who was nude, pursued the employee, then returned to the massage room, got dressed and left around 8:38 p.m., according to the affidavit.

Two minutes later, police said he reentered the business and attempted to force the employee back to the massage room.

According to police, surveillance footage showed the struggle. According to police, McDonald threw the employee to the ground and attempted to take off her pants. McDonald then dragged the employee by her hair toward the massage room, but she resisted.

Throughout the assault, McDonald inappropriately touched her and choked her with his forearm and hands around her neck, according to police. The employee was eventually able to flee the business.

McDonald was being held in Butler County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond since his May 31, 2023, arrest. He received credit for time already served in prison.