Man pleads in trespass case before start of trial
A Butler man set to stand trial pleaded guilty before the start of that proceeding in Butler County Court on Wednesday.
James A. Freed, 59, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor defiant trespass before Judge Timothy McCune.
The plea came moments before the start of Freed's jury trial, scheduled to begin Wednesday morning.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of probation, restitution and to have no contact with the victims. He is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 5.
Freed was initially charged with felony criminal trespass, which was amended as part of the plea.
The charge stems from an incident on Dec. 12 in Butler, where Butler police say Freed forced his way into his former girlfriend's home on Rattigan Street. The door and deadbolt lock were damaged in the incident.
Freed also has four additional pending cases, which include charges of felony burglary, drug possession, assault and theft. Freed will be making an application to Behavioral Health Court for those cases.
His attorney, Public Defender Charles Nedz, attempted to enter an oral motion for bail reduction to pretrial services in those cases, but McCune instructed him to make the motion in writing, allowing the court to review the case,
Freed continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail in this case, as well as $5,000 in the burglary incident.
