NORRISTOWN — An Upper Salford Township man will head to jail next month for physically assaulting a teenage girl during an argument at his residence.
Beau J. Banta, 43, of the 1500 block of Salford Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 6 to 23 months in the county jail on charges of simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment in connection with a March 2021 incident at his residence.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who convicted Banta of the charges during a nonjury trial, ordered Banta to report to the county jail on April 8 to begin serving the sentence.
The judge said Banta also must complete three years’ probation consecutive to parole, meaning Banta will be under court supervision for about five years.
O’Neill also ordered Banta to complete an anger management counseling program. Banta is prohibited from having contact with the victim.
An investigation began on March 31, 2021, when the 17-year-old female victim, accompanied by a relative, reported to state police at Skippack that she was physically assaulted by Banta during an argument while she was at Banta’s Upper Salford residence, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper John Hoy.
“The verbal argument escalated. During at least three instances, Banta then proceeded to punch the victim in the face with his fist. He punched the victim in the face again causing her to fall to the ground,” Hoy alleged. “While the victim was positioned on the ground, Banta repeatedly kicked the victim in the arms, ribs and legs.”
While interviewing the victim, police observed a bruise on the left side of the victim’s ribs and redness and swelling to her right eye. Police also viewed photographs of the victim’s injuries.
After the victim reported the assault, police attempted to make contact with Banta in-person and by phone “with negative results,” according to the criminal complaint. Court documents did not indicate when Banta was taken into custody but the charges were filed on April 11, 2021, according to court records.
By convicting Banta of the simple assault charge, the judge determined he attempted to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury to the teenage girl.
