Malcolm Herald

A Butler man was sentenced to probation after being charged with shooting another person in the neck twice with a pellet gun in May 2017.

Malcolm Herald, 27, was sentenced to 18 months county probation by Butler County Judge William Shaffer. He was also ordered to pay court costs and complete community service.

Herald pleaded guilty April 4 to a count of misdemeanor simple assault.

Butler police initially charged Herald with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person after an incident in the 400 block of Hazel Avenue on May 5, 2017.

The simple assault charge to which he pleaded was later added, and the remaining charges will be dismissed as part of the plea.

Police said Herald shot Lukas Safranek, 22, following a verbal altercation over an alleged past incident.

According to police, Safranek was visibly injured but refused medical treatment.

Herald apologized during the proceeding, saying “I'm sorry for what I did,” and “you will never see me here again.”