Hermitage man charged in assault on his girlfriend

Staff report

hermitage, pa.

A Hermitage, Pa., man faces attempted-murder and other charges after repeatedly assaulting his girlfriend, police said.

Hermitage police learned of the assault at 1:30 a.m. Saturday after being called to the Sharon Regional Health System emergency room, where the woman was being treated.

They went to her home on Greenwood Drive and arrested Westley Basilone, 34, of Maple Drive in Hermitage.

Police said Basilone pinned the woman on her bed for 20 minutes.

He let her up, followed her and pushed her into a wall, then pushed her to the floor and poked the contact lens out of her eye, police reported.

He dragged her into the living room where he tried to suffocate her with a pillow, hitting her in the back of the head with an object while she struggled, they said.

He dragged her through the kitchen and onto the back patio, where he tried to hit her with a stereo and speakers, they said.

He choked her until she passed out, then carried her to the basement where he passed out from intoxication, they said.

Basilone also was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and terroristic threats.

He was arraigned Monday before District Judge Lorinda Hinch, and she set his bond at $100,000.

He was taken to the Mercer County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. next Tuesday.