Gene Ruhle

A Cranberry Township man, charged with growing marijuana at his home and assaulting a woman, pleaded guilty in Butler County Court on Monday.

Gene P. Ruhle, 29, pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and three misdemeanor counts of simple assault before county Judge William Shaffer, according to public court documents.

He is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 19.

Ruhle was initially charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault, two counts of felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one count each of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment, unlawful restraint, three counts of misdemeanor simple assault, two counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and three summary counts of harassment after an incident on Dobson Road on Dec. 21.

Adams Township officers charged Ruhle after responding to a domestic incident, and later finding a marijuana-growing operation inside the house, police said.

Ruhle's girlfriend reported to police that the two had gotten into an argument that morning while still in bed, before Ruhle kicked her out of the bed, pulled her hair and assaulted her several times around the house.

She said Ruhle punched her in the face, strangled her until she lost consciousness and hit her head, held her down and spit on her and cut her lip. He also allegedly threw her cat out of the house in anger.

While at the house, the officers observed glass jars filled with suspected marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in plain view, according to the complaint.

Later that day, they executed a search warrant at the house and allegedly found a large growing operation in multiple rooms. They reported removing 84 suspected marijuana plants, weighing more than 18 pounds, along with grow-light fixtures, water circulators and other growing supplies. They also confiscated 220 grams of suspected marijuana that was processed and ready for sale.

Ruhle was arraigned that night and placed in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail, which was later reduced to $10,000 unsecured and he was released.