Apr 27, 2017 1 min read

A Washington County jury on Wednesday acquitted Chase Alexander O’Brien, 18, of Monongahela, on charges of simple assault and unlawful restraint.

Kaitlynn Greyshock told police she and O’Brien quarreled at his Lincoln Street home Aug. 25 and he then held her down and tried to choke her to keep her from using her cellphone to call the 911 emergency dispatch center.

Jurors, who were chosen Monday, heard O’Brien deny in testimony Tuesday his girlfriend had been assaulted. His attorney, Neil Marcus, called Greyshock “a very irrational girl” who was seeking revenge. Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann pointed out O’Brien is 9 inches taller than the alleged victim and asked jurors to take into account evidence of her injuries as photographed by Monongahela police.

After the jury departed, Judge Michael Lucas found O’Brien guilty of criminal mischief for breaking Greyshock’s cellphone, but dismissed summary charges of harassment and disorderly conduct. He sentenced the defendant to time served in the county jail to 90 days and paroled him immediately.