John C. Leitzel must spend time behind bars for assaulting two Pottsville police officers in August 2015, a Schuylkill County judge decided Wednesday.
Leitzel, 32, of Pottsville, will serve nine to 23 months in prison, undergo a mental health evaluation and pay costs and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence, which was part of a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant.
Leitzel pleaded guilty to two counts of simple assault and one of resisting arrest, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts of aggravated assault and one each of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.
In addition to being the victims, Pottsville police were the prosecutors in the case against Leitzel, who said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood the charges and their consequences and was entering his plea knowingly and voluntarily.
Police said Leitzel assaulted James Joos and Joseph R. Welsh and then resisted arrest on Aug. 19, 2015, in the city.