Latrobe man convicted in 2021 assault case

A Latrobe man pleaded guilty Thursday in connection with a domestic assault, a year after a mistrial occurred when one juror communicated with another about the case via Facebook.

Glenn James Whittier, 53, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and simple assault. He was sentenced Thursday to 23 months in prison plus a year of probation, according to a sentencing order. Court records indicate he spent just over 16 months in jail on $25,000 bail after his arrest.

Jurors were set to begin deliberations in the case against Whittier in June 2023 when officials became aware of the social media communication.

Prosecutors say Whittier assaulted and strangled a 63-year-old woman in a Greensburg apartment in January 2021 when she tried to break off their romantic relationship. Whittier has denied the allegations.

Prosecutors dismissed charges of aggravated assault, strangulation, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats and harassment. Whittier was ordered to take an anger management class.

He was previously sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison for a 2015 attack on a former girlfriend in Latrobe. Whittier was granted parole in the case in January 2019, according to court records.