A Butler county judge has delayed sentencing a man found guilty of attacking his Penn Township neighbor in 2017 after questions arose over his mental and physical health.

Ronald A. Postreich, 72, pleaded no contest in June to two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and defiant trespass.

He was charged with attacking his neighbor in October 2017 with a hatchet and stun gun while disguised in a Halloween mask.

Postreich, who now lives in Gibsonia, initially was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, possessing a prohibited offensive weapon and trespass.

“My first job is to protect the community and I don't know if I'm in a position to say that Postreich is not a danger to the people,” Common Pleas Judge William Shaffer said.

Assistant District Attorney Marke Lope requested Shaffer sentence Postreich to jail for “this especially brutal attack that was premeditated,”

But Postreich's lawyer, Jerry Russo, asked for a more lenient sentence of house arrest, citing his client's continual health issues and bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Shaffer rescheduled sentencing for December and ordered Postreich to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before then. He will continue to be on pretrial supervision, including an order barring him from contacting the victim, Russell Callenberg.

The postponement also gives Postreich time to recover from an upcoming medical operation.

“I have a defendant who entered a (no contest) and told presentence investigators that he did not do this, a victim who expressed ongoing safety concerns and I'm supposed to fashion a sentence,” Shaffer said of his reasons for the sentencing delay, adding he needs to take all the issues into consideration.

Under the plea deal Postreich accepted in March, he is supposed to sell his house on Morgan Road, which is next door to Callenberg's property. Additionally, Postreich is not allowed to enter the Morgan Road residence alone or without permission from authorities. Russo told the court his client's home is up for sale.

Thursday's sentencing hearing began with Callenberg testifying about the night Postreich attacked him at his home.

“I was knocked unconscious from behind, left completely vulnerable,” Callenberg said, adding that he is a Vietnam War veteran. “I thought I was going to die. I woke up with a man in a mask over me, putting his full force down on me.”

He also told the court he is receiving counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the attack nearly two years ago.

Callenberg testified in 2017 that he wrestled Postreich off him, was able to get away and call police. He noted at the time the attack left him with bruising and soreness to the back of his head and neck as well as chest pain. He also suffered a collapsed lung and fractured rib in the assault.

Since the incident, Callenberg said Postreich has shown no remorse and continues to menace him and his family by “cruising the edge of my property on his tractor.”

After Callenberg's testimony, Lope urged Shaffer to sentence Postreich to at least 90 days in jail and a year on house arrest with electronic monitoring. Additionally, he requested Postreich be ordered to pay Callenberg $498 for his medical co-pay and counseling fees.

Russo, in response, called the attack “clearly a tragic incident for all parties involved.”

The defense attorney went on to list a number of health issues and a “high level of mental deficiency.”

“I'm not presenting this evidence as justification for the horrible incident,” Russo said, noting the attack was the latest in a long dispute between Postreich and Callenberg.

Court records at District Judge Sue Haggerty's office and the Butler County Courthouse showed a list of claims and counterclaims between the neighbors over the years involving matters of property damage, trespassing and Postreich's dogs.

According to Russo, Postreich never had any problems with other neighbors, and he would often hold barbecues and other community gatherings.

He further noted his client has no prior criminal record.

“He is sorry. He is apologetic to whatever occurred,” Russo said, asking Shaffer to consider an alternate sentence of probation.

Citing the testimony and other factors, Shaffer rescheduled Postreich's sentencing. He also said that Postreich “is someone who says, 'I didn't do it.'”

Russo disagreed.

“Mr. Postreich has accepted his portion of responsibility of discord that occurred between the two parties,” Russo said, adding he is fine with the postponement.