Nov 12, 2015 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – A former Waynesburg Borough police officer who assaulted a man whom he believed was dating his ex-girlfriend pleaded guilty Tuesday in Greene County Court.

Asa Winters, 30, of Waynesburg, pleaded guilty to simple assault, defiant trespass and public drunkenness during a hearing before Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman. A charge of burglary was withdrawn by the state Attorney General’s office, which prosecuted the case, at his preliminary hearing.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled by the court.

Winters entered an apartment at 62 S. Richhill St. in Waynesburg on the night of Dec. 31, highly intoxicated, and assaulted Tanner Downing, whom he believed was dating his ex-girlfriend.

Winters assaulted the wrong man, police said, since his intended victim was actually Downing’s roommate.

After entering the apartment, Winters confronted Downing, accusing him of having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, police said. Downing was struck numerous times and suffered a swollen lip and bruises to his face and neck.

Winters resigned from the Waynesburg Police Department in March. He had served as a full-time officer since June 2013.

The case was initially investigated by Waynesburg police and state police, but District Attorney Marjorie Fox later referred it to the state Attorney General’s office because of a conflict of interest with the defendant.