Pottstown man draws jail for domestic violence

NORRISTOWN » A Pottstown man faces time behind bars for assaulting his onetime girlfriend during a domestic disturbance that ensued while they traveled in a vehicle in the borough.

Keith A. Weisel, 41, of the 500 block of Spring Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief in connection with the 6:06 p.m. March 14, 2016, incident at High and Manatawny streets.

Judge Todd D. Eisenberg also ordered Weisel to complete four years’ probation following parole, meaning Weisel will be under court supervision for about six years.

An investigation began when Pottstown police responded to the area of High and Manatawny streets for a report of a man beating a woman. When police arrived at the location they observed Weisel showing signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, and Weisel admitted to consuming alcohol, according to court papers.

Police said the female victim was being treated in an ambulance at the scene.

“(The victim) said that Weisel and she were arguing and it got physical as they were driving. (The victim) said that Weisel was pulling her hair and shoving her head down under the dashboard of the vehicle,” Pottstown Police Officer Peter Yambrick alleged in the arrest affidavit, adding the victim stated Weisel also struck her with a closed fist in her head.

At one point, Weisel allegedly got out of the car and the victim was trying to keep him out of the vehicle. Weisel then forced the door open with such force that it caused more than $3,800 damage to the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

A witness confirmed the victim’s account of the incident, police said.

As part of the sentencing order, the judge said Weisel must pay restitution totaling $3,839 to cover the cost of the damage to the victim’s vehicle.