Carbon man who assaulted girlfriend gets jail time

A Carbon County man, who admitted on Monday morning in the county court to assaulting his then girlfriend, was sentenced to a county prison term.

Matthew S. Renaud, 50, of Lansford, pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault and was immediately sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve six to 12 months in prison. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped charges of aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, harassment, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person. It was noted the victim agreed with the plea bargain.

Renaud was arrested on Feb. 23, 2019, when Lansford police were dispatched to a domestic incident in the 300 block of West Patterson Street.

The victim said that Renaud beat her up and threatened to put her in the trunk of the vehicle.

Upon arrival, officer Amie Barclay made contact with the victim, who exhibited significant injury to her left eye and cheek area, and the area of her face was swollen, red and black and blue.

Barclay requested EMS and additional police units, at which time officer Brian Horos of the Summit Hill police and officer Richard Neikam of the Nesquehoning police arrived on scene.

The victim said she did not know where Renaud was and was not sure if he had any weapons.

The victim said that Renaud was her live-in boyfriend and that he punched her in the face eight to 10 times and kicked her in the face so many times she didn’t really know.

The victim said that Renaud would not allow her to leave the living room and made her sit next to him with his hand on her.

Renaud would not let the victim use the restroom, which caused her to soil herself. Then he allowed her to use the bathroom.

As the victim was changing, she locked her bedroom door and escaped through a rear door, pushing a lattice fence away from the home and getting onto a side porch.

The victim said this went on for over four hours.

At this time, EMS then arrived on scene and transported the victim to St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale.

Barclay, along with Horos and Neikam, then entered the residence and attempted to locate Renaud.

A thorough search of the residence was conducted but Renaud was not found.

Barclay then responded to Miners Campus, where the victim said that Renaud punched and kicked her in the face several times, and that while she was on the floor, he continued to strike her in the face and head and yelled at her, “You’re done!” “No savior” and “No neighbors can hear you.”

The victim also said that Renaud wanted to go to the store up the street to get more beer and that he told her he would put her in the trunk of the car because, “Look at your face, I can’t take you into the store.”

Renaud said since his arrest he entered the Salvation Army rehabilitation program for drug or alcohol abuse. He successfully completed it. His defense attorney, Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said Renaud also had to deal with mental health issues.

Renaud told Serfass, “I’m sorry for my actions. I’m trying to get my life back. I’m trying to be a better person.” He said he and the victim are back together.

Serfass noted that Renaud has an extensive criminal record but that it dates back to the 1980s.

In addition to the jail term, Serfass ordered Renaud to render 50 hours of community service, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision while on parole and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

He was given credit for 251 days which includes 173 in the Salvation Army inpatient program and prison time, and was paroled.