NORRISTOWN — A man from Upper Salford Township will be sent to jail next month for physically attacking a teenage girl during an argument at his home.
Beau J. Banta, 43, who lives on the 1500 block of Salford Street, was given a sentence of 6 to 23 months in the county jail in Montgomery County Court for simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment related to a March 2021 incident at his home.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who found Banta guilty of the charges in a trial without a jury, instructed Banta to report to the county jail on April 8 to begin serving his sentence.
The judge mentioned that Banta also needs to finish three years of probation after his release, so he will be under court supervision for about five years.
O’Neill also mandated Banta to complete an anger management counseling program and to have no contact with the victim.
An inquiry began on March 31, 2021, when a 17-year-old girl, accompanied by a relative, told state police at Skippack that Banta had physically attacked her during an argument while she was at Banta’s residence in Upper Salford, as per a criminal complaint 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, the police noticed a bruise on the left side of her ribs and redness and swelling around her right eye. The police also saw photographs of her injuries.
After the victim reported the assault, the police tried to contact Banta in person and by phone “with negative results,” according to the criminal complaint. Court documents did not specify 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 tried to cause or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to the teenage girl.
