Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced today that Barry Schlegel, age 61, was sentenced to a period of 3 years to 6 years in state prison after a jury found him guilty of three counts of Simple Assault in relation to acts of domestic violence. The charges were the result of an incident occurring in a pick-up truck that Schlegel was driving in which the victim was a passenger back on August 4, 2018. During the trial that occurred in January, the victim testified that Schlegel struck her in the face repeatedly, pulled her hair and hit her on various other parts of her body. The assault left multiple bruises on the victim.

At the sentencing hearing, First Assistant District Attorney Bruce DeSarro argued in favor of the three to six year sentence, which was the maximum allowed for the charges under Pennsylvania Law. At sentencing, DeSarro spoke of Schlegel’s criminal history that included four prior convictions for assault. DeSarro specifically highlighted two prior cases for domestic abuse that occurred since 2003 which involved two different victims. DeSarro also noted for the court the literal and figurative scars domestic violence victims endure and how the psychological trauma they experience often lasts well beyond their physical injuries.

In regard to the sentencing, District Attorney Ray Tonkin credited the Pennsylvania State Police for their investigation in the matter and stated, “my Office will continue to work hard combatting domestic violence through our Domestic Abuse Response Team, which includes the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, and victims.”

While awaiting transfer to a state correctional facility, Schlegel is currently in custody at the Pike County Correctional Facility, where he has been held since his conviction in January.