WILKES-BARRE — A New York man said he did not intend to hurt anyone when he forced his way inside a Lehman Township residence and assaulted a sleeping man with a tire iron before turning a knife on his ex-girlfriend.
Aaron Matthew Merritt, 29, formerly of Newark Valley, apologized to his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend during his sentencing hearing before Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas on Tuesday.
“I had no intentions of hurting anyone. I’m a man and I own up to my mistake,” Merritt said.
Merritt’s attorney, John Donovan, said “jealousy took over” as Merritt was upset his ex-girlfriend was dating another man.
Lehman Township police charged Merrit after he forced his way inside the woman’s residence on Route 29 and used a tire iron to strike her boyfriend on Jan. 12, 2024, according to court records.
The woman was awakened and ran out of the bedroom to summon help.
Police in court records say the man received eight staples to the back of his head, stitches to the front of his head and bruises to his arms.
Lupas sentenced Merritt to 5-15 years in state prison on charges of aggravated assault and burglary. Merritt pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 12.
Merritt was also ordered to pay more than $72,000 in restitution for medical costs.
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