A Westmoreland County judge on Monday ruled the only way to protect the community from a Mt. Pleasant man accused of attempting to murder his girlfriend was for him to remain in jail.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears rejected a request to release Charles Etling on nominal bond, saying his violent criminal history and the serious allegations that resulted from an incident last month did not warrant a pretrial release.

“There is no condition other than prison that can assure the safety of the victim and the community,” Mears said.

Etling, 39, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, strangulation and reckless endangerment in connection with the alleged attack on June 11 against his 40-year-old girlfriend as they returned from Morgantown. He is being held in the county jail without bail.

Police said Etling choked his accuser, dragged her out of the vehicle and again strangled her until she was unconscious. Believing she was dead, Etling dragged her body into a wooded area near Jacobs Creek and left her there, police said.

State Police Trooper Evan Terek testified Monday that Etling believed he killed the woman and confessed to her murder three times — to his mother, sister and police. Terek said that while Etling spoke with investigators, the woman awoke while partially submerged in the water and walked to a nearby home to call for help.

Defense attorney Chris Huffman argued that Etling should be released to house arrest. Huffman said Etling is not a risk to flee, suggested his accuser will not testify against him at trial and that she suffered only minor injuries.

“They may not be able to secure a conviction in this case,” Huffman said.

District Attorney John Peck said Etling’s past criminal record, which including convictions dating back to 2003 for an assault against a woman, preclude him from a pretrial release.

“He is a person who is capable of serious crime and, in view of his past record, apparently he hasn’t learned very much,” Peck said.

Peck said he has no information that Etling’s accuser is unwilling to testify against him at trial.

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