A Mt. Carmel man is facing a long list of charges following a series of alleged domestic violence incidents.
34-year-old Jeremy Birkla remains in the Wabash County Jail after his arrest last week. According to court records, Birkla is charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, after he allegedly choked his girlfriend during an incident on November 23rd.
He also faces charges of unlawful restraint, for allegedly preventing the woman from leaving the residence, and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor, for reportedly striking her in the face. In addition, Birkla is charged with interference with the reporting of domestic violence, also a Class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly took her phone to keep her from calling police or medical personnel.
Prosecutors have also filed a separate domestic battery charge stemming from an incident on November 21st, along with criminal damage to property for allegedly breaking a vehicle window belonging to the victim on November 10th.
Birkla made his first court appearance last Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is set for December 15th, and a jury trial is scheduled for February 2nd.
Birkla previously pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Billy Gunzel and was sentenced at that time to 30 months of probation and 364 days of periodic imprisonment.
