Man sentenced for assaulting ex-girlfriend

NORRISTOWN >> An Upper Pottsgrove man is behind state prison bars after a jury convicted him of breaking into his estranged girlfriend’s Royersford apartment and assaulting and strangling her during a domestic disturbance.

Joshua Troy Porter, 28, of the 100 block of Hanover Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 12½ to 25 years in a state correctional facility in connection with the May 2017 incident in Royersford.

Judge Wendy G. Rothstein also ordered Porter to complete domestic violence and anger management counseling programs.

Porter also is prohibited from

having any contact with the victim, the judge said.

During a two-day trial in July, a jury convicted Porter of charges of burglary, simple assault, unlawful restraint, strangulation, recklessly endangering another person and criminal trespass in connection with the incident.

The jury acquitted Porter of a single charge of aggravated assault.

An investigation began about 11:52 p.m. May 14, 2017, when the victim appeared on the parking lot of the Royersford police station to report she was assaulted by her “soon to be ex-boyfriend” inside her apartment in the 200 block of Main Street, according to the criminal complaint.

“The victim ran to the police station parking lot covered in blood and displaying visible injuries to her head and knees,” Royersford Police Officer John O’Keefe alleged in the arrest affidavit.

The victim reported that she was asleep when she awoke to the sound of breaking glass. When the victim went to her living room she encountered Porter who had climbed a fire escape and smashed a window in order to gain entry to the apartment, police alleged.

“The defendant began a verbal argument about their relationship and eventually took possession of a 4-inch paring knife from the kitchen,” O’Keefe alleged, adding Porter stated he was going to kill himself as he slashed his left forearm, “causing a significant amount of blood loss.”

The woman was able to take possession of the knife and as she ran from the apartment, Porter pushed her down the stairs, police alleged. The woman struck her head on a baseboard and suffered a laceration to her forehead that required sutures, according to the criminal complaint.

As the woman fled outside to an alleyway, Porter grabbed her from behind, placed her in a headlock and then placed his hand across her mouth and nose, according to the arrest affidavit. Porter then pushed the woman to the ground.

“The defendant, with his hand still across her mouth and nose, placed his other hand across her throat,” O’Keefe alleged. “The defendant placed pressure to her throat, causing the victim to start losing consciousness.”

Porter eventually released his grip and fled from the area. The victim then ran to the police station for help.

Court documents do not indicate when Porter was taken into custody.