A Mt. Carmel man facing multiple domestic violence charges will remain behind bars as his case moves toward trial.
Thirty-four-year-old Jeremy Birkla was in court Thursday, where he waived his preliminary hearing and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. A motion for pre-trial release was denied, with the court finding that Birkla’s continued detention is necessary to avoid a real and present threat to the safety of individuals or the community, based on the specific, articulable facts of the case.
Birkla remains lodged in the Wabash County Jail.
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, domestic battery for reportedly striking her in the face, and interference with the reporting of domestic violence after allegedly taking her phone to keep her from calling police or medical personnel.
Prosecutors have also filed a separate domestic battery charge related to an incident on November 21st, along with criminal damage to property for allegedly breaking the victim’s vehicle window on November 10th.
Pre-trial conferences are scheduled for January 22nd and February 19th, with a jury trial set for March 2nd.
Court records also show Birkla previously pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2012 death of Billy Gunzel and was sentenced to probation and periodic imprisonment.
