dme court

A Butler County man representing himself argued a woman he’s accused of assaulting in view of two of her children lied about the circumstances surrounding the incident and has a personality disorder, which the woman denied.

Kyle Manning Mercer, 40, represented himself during a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Aug. 11. An assistant district attorney was not present for the hearing.

The woman testified she invited Mercer to her home July 28 to mow the lawn and spend time with her children. The woman said while Mercer was at her residence, he attempted to shove his hand down the front of her pants and insulted her when she refused his advances.

The woman said she went upstairs to call a friend and Mercer followed her upstairs and into the laundry room where the woman and her daughter were. The woman said Mercer pushed her into a small area between the washing machine and the wall. The woman’s daughter began to cry while witnessing the incident, she said, and she took her daughter to the bathroom in case she would throw up.

She said Mercer followed her into the bathroom and pushed her into the bathtub while she was helping her daughter.

Mercer questioned the woman and testified himself.

He claimed the woman had bought alcohol for him that day and invited him over for “skinny dipping.” The woman countered the invitation was made in the days before the incident.

Mercer also said he and the woman were engaged in a sex act in the bathroom and they both fell into the bathtub and received similar bruises, which the woman refuted.

Mercer alleged he has 120 hours of recordings of the woman saying she would lie to send him to prison. He also alleged the woman is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“BPD has caused an extreme amount of suffering for our family,” Mercer said.

The woman testified she did not have and had never been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The couple had been together on and off for 12 years, the woman said.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton held charges of misdemeanor simple assault and indecent assault for court.

The woman testified Mercer has a history of violence and criminal charges, and she would not feel safe if he were to be granted supervised release until his trial. Mercer remains in Butler County Prison.

Mercer’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 29 in Butler County Common Pleas Courtroom 2.