Thomas Romspert

A Butler man accused of barricading himself in his home after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend last summer pleaded guilty to lesser charges Tuesday in Butler County Court.

The brief standoff with city police July 31 didn't end well for 26-year-old Thomas P. Romspert.

A K-9 officer put the bite on him, police said, after he refused to come out at his home on the 300 block of Third Avenue.

Romspert pleaded guilty to second-degree misdemeanor charges of simple assault and resisting arrest before President Judge Thomas Doerr.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of unlawful restraint, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The plea agreement calls for 18 months probation. He is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. He remains in Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.

Police said they were called shortly after 5 p.m. for a domestic dispute at Romspert's house. When officers got to the door, according to court documents, they heard a woman inside repeatedly saying, “Let me go.”

The 23-year-old victim, according to court documents, eventually opened the door. Police said they saw that she had injuries to her arms and chest.

She told police that Romspert was hiding in the attic.

Officers went to the attic and heard Romspert barricading the door, documents said. They ordered him to come out but he refused.

Police said they had to force open the door and deploy K-9 officer Blade.

“As soon as (the dog) entered the room,” according to a police affidavit, “Romspert threw a large mattress at him.”

Blade bit the defendant on the right thigh and took him to the floor. But he continued to resist and refused to give up, police said.

During the struggle, Blade's handler, Sgt. Dave Villotti, injured his ribs and a shoulder. He was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Paramedics tended to Romspert's minor injuries at the police station.

He was placed in the county prison following his arrest and released Sept. 8 after posting bail.

But he was jailed again Feb. 1 after he failed to attend a court hearing.

Romspert is expected to be released from prison after sentencing, his attorney, public defender Charles Nedz, said following Tuesday's court proceedings.