A Derry Township man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the assault and strangulation of his live-in girlfriend in early 2020.
Wayne Nestler Jr., 36, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts of strangulation and one misdemeanor offense of simple assault in connection with allegations he physically assaulted the woman during an hourlong attack in front of two young children.
Prosecutors said the assault was recorded on a home security camera. A shortened 17-minute portion of the video from the Jan. 7, 2020, incident was played in court during the guilty plea hearing. In the video, prosecutors said Nestler can be seen as he physically and verbally assailed the woman.
The victim suffered swollen eyes and other facial injuries in the attack. According to court records, prosecutors unearthed the video in 2023, years after Nestler was first charged.
The case languished after Nestler failed to appear at least three times for scheduled court hearings. His trial was to begin Monday.
Westmoreland County Judge Michael Stewart II sentenced Nestler to serve 21⁄2 to five years in prison and an additional two years on probation. He was given credit for nearly one year he has served in jail since his arrest.
“This was a relationship involving domestic violence,” the judge said as he referred to the video of the incident in which the victim and her children appeared not to react during the attack.
“It’s one where I’d lose my mind in a situation like this and (their reaction) makes me think this has happened before. It’s something I can’t comprehend as a person, constantly cursing and degrading someone with your children sitting right next to you,” Stewart said.
