A Baltimore, Md., man pleaded guilty Monday to strangulation and assault charges, avoiding a trial on allegations that he attempted to rape a massage therapy employee in 2023.

David V. McDonald, 64, pleaded guilty to a felony count of strangulation and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and simple assault. The agreed upon recommended sentence is 42 to 84 months in prison followed by 60 months of probation, according to a plea agreement reached Monday, a day before his jury trial was scheduled to begin.

In addition, McDonald will undergo a state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board evaluation before his tentatively scheduled sentencing Oct. 23. The indecent assault charge is a tier 2 offense under Megan’s Law, which could require him to register as a sexual offender for 25 years, according to the agreement.

McDonald has been held in the county prison in lieu of $100,000 bond since his arrest following the alleged May 30 incident in Butler Township.

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 of surveillance footage, police said it was determined that a man, later identified as McDonald, entered the building and requested an hourlong 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, where McDonald threw the employee to the ground and attempted to take off her pants. McDonald then dragged the employee by the hair toward the massage room, but she resisted.

Throughout the assault, the employee told police McDonald inappropriately touched her and choked her with his forearm and hands around her neck. Police said the employee was able to flee.

The 42 to 84 month prison and 60 month probation sentence is for the strangulation charge. The indecent assault and simple assault sentences of 12 to 24 months in prison and 12 months probation each run concurrently with the strangulation sentence, according to the agreement.