A Carbon County man admitted in the county court this week to assaulting a police officer.

Daniel Lee Schaffer, 30, of Franklin Township, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault - attempts to cause serious bodily or causes injury with extreme indifference to a police officer, a felony 3.

Schaffer was originally charged with 11 criminal counts including three counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person along with one count each of institutional vandalism and persistent disorderly conduct.

Schaffer was arrested by township police on Dec. 14, 2020.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Franklin Police Chief Jason Doll:

At 9:14 a.m. Dec. 14, Doll was dispatched to the report of a man who pointed a gun at a woman and told her to get out of the house in the 1300 block of Red Hill Road. The caller had fled the home but the man, Schaffer, was still inside with the weapon and his girlfriend and a large number of weapons.

Doll could hear a man yelling inside the home. Doll knocked on the door, and Schaffer opened it slightly, hiding behind it. Doll advised Schaffer several times to show him his hands, and Schaffer began yelling, “My (expletive) hands are right here” and slammed the door shut.

Doll got inside and eventually put himself between Schaffer and guns in the home.

Schaffer continued to scream at Doll, “I didn’t do anything and they were (expletive) trespassing.” Doll was able to get him handcuffed and took him outside and secured him in the rear of his police vehicle.

While other officers were en route, Doll went back to the house and could hear a woman crying. She came around the corner from the hallway bent over and limping, crying. She said she was holding her back because it hurt.

The victim told Doll that she left the house on Friday because Schaffer “kicked the (expletive) out of her,” and said she came back Monday morning with her friend to get her cat and some other items, but that Schaffer, who was asleep, came around the corner and pointed a handgun at them and said, “you’re trespassing, get the (expletive) out.” The victim and Schaffer began to argue. She said Schaffer picked her up and threw her on the floor, and began kicking her in the ribs.

The victim also said she thinks Schaffer grabbed her around the neck, but it all happened so fast she wasn’t sure. She said Schaffer pushed her friend out the door and she was inside.

Doll asked the victim where the gun was, and she said it was either on the dresser in the room or the bed. The gun was secured by officer Shawn Leadbetter of the Palmerton police.

The victim agreed to get a Protection From Abuse filed against Schaffer.

Schaffer began screaming in the rear of the car and slamming his head against the partition, and was also kicking at the door. Schaffer attempted to stand up and push his way out of the vehicle. Doll was able to push him back inside and he laid down and began kicking Doll, striking him several times in the chest and stomach. Doll pushed Schaffer’s legs back and shut the door.

At the station, Schaffer said he did point the gun at the victim, but denied kicking or hitting her. Schaffer didn’t deny fighting with Doll when attempting to handcuff him and kicking Doll and the door of the truck while in the patrol unit.

Schaffer told the court, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”

Defense attorney Eric Wiltrout, of the public defender’s office, said his client has mental health issues which he has been addressing and taking medication.

Schaffer is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

Matika sentenced him to time-served (134 days) to 23 months in prison and ordered he get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render 75 hours of community service, attend and successfully complete a anger management course, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of over $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.