UPDATE --

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announces the sentencing of Charles Etling, 42, of Mount Pleasant Township.

Etling was found guilty by a jury of aggravated assault, strangulation and recklessly endangering another person in January.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears sentenced Etling on Thursday, April 13, 2023, to serve a minimum prison sentence of 9 ½ years.

Etling brutally beat his estranged girlfriend in 2020 and left her unconscious in the woods near Jacobs Creek.

DA Ziccarelli is grateful the judge ordered Etling to serve an appropriate prison sentence given his extensive criminal history.  

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Greensburg, PA -- A Westmoreland County jury found Charles Etling guilty after a nearly week-long trial prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christina Gongaware.

Etling, of Mount Pleasant, was found guilty of aggravated assault, strangulation and recklessly endangering another person.

A jury did not convict Etling on the single count of attempted homicide after deliberating for more than two hours. 

Etling brutally beat his former girlfriend while the couple fought driving home from West Virginia in 2020.

Prosecutors contended Etling punched her, dragged her out of the vehicle by her hair, and strangled her until she was unconscious.

The victim was dragged about 50 feet into the woods off the roadway near Jacobs Creek before Etling drove off.

The victim regained consciousness about 12 hours later and walked out of the woods covered in bruises and mud.

District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli is appreciative of the commitment shown by Assistant District Attorney Christina Gongaware for prosecuting this case and ensuring offenders with a long history of violent, criminal behavior remain incarcerated to better protect the public.