Libby man pleads guilty to assaulting girlfriend

A Libby man accused of assaulting his girlfriend during a domestic disturbance earlier this year has pleaded guilty.

Tyler Evan Eroh, 32, who remains in the Lincoln County Detention Center, was first charged with felony strangulation of a partner or family member, partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

He pleaded not guilty to the offenses on Jan. 29. Eroh pleaded guilty to the felony strangulation charge and the misdemeanors were dismissed as part of a plea deal between public defender Scott B. Johnson and county Attorney Marcia Boris.

District Judge Matt Cuffe accepted the guilty plea at a March 18 hearing and set sentencing for April 29.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Libby police officer Caleb Thomas spoke to the alleged victim, a 19-year-old woman, at about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 at a residence on Cabinet Heights Road.

She said Eroh grabbed her hair and pushed her face into a pillow on the bed she was sitting on. She said he held her down for a couple seconds, blocking the airflow into her nose and mouth.

While arresting Eroh, Thomas searched him and found a small glass jar with white powdery residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

A conviction on the felony charge may result in a five-year term in the Montana State Prison.