Sarver man, 38, pleads guilty in assault case
A Sarver man pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault for threatening a woman with a knife in September.
Eric B. Berger, 38, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault before President Judge Thomas Doerr in Butler County Court.
He was immediately sentenced to 6 months of county probation and payment of a $50 fine and court costs.
Berger was initially charged by Saxonburg police with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple assault after an incident at a home on the 200 block of West Main Street in Saxonburg on Sept. 30.
Police said Berger came to the home drunk that night before attacking a woman and asking her to stab and slash him.
Berger told the woman to make him something to eat. When she did, police said, Berger told the woman that her cooking was bad, sparking an argument that escalated into a physical attack during which Berger hit and choked the woman.
Police said at one point Berger stopped assaulting the woman and handed her a knife, telling her that he wanted her to cut and stab him.
The woman refused and put the knife down, police said, and Berger began to “get physical” with her again. This time, however, the woman was able to get to her cell phone and call 911, prompting Berger to flee the home through the back door.
Police said they arrived at the home that night to find Berger gone and the woman's neck, throat and left ear badly bruised.
