Jun 28, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

A Uniontown man accused of assaulting two Fayette County Adult Probation officers who tried to arrest him last August agreed to plead guilty to that and another case. George Joseph Elias Jr. will plead guilty to simple assault, theft by unlawful taking and escape in that case for assaulting probation officers Rebecca L. Petrus and James J. Williams in exchange for six to 12 months in prison.

State police alleged that Williams and Petrus saw Elias at a fruit stand along Route 119 in Bullskin Township on Aug. 7, and pulled over because they had a warrant for his arrest. Initially, Elias cooperated and let the two handcuff his right wrist.

When the officers tried to cuff his left wrist, police allege that Elias started to resist, fighting with Williams and Petrus.

Another man interfered in the fight, said police, and Elias escaped.

Williams had a scratch to his right eye and an abrasion to his right knee and Petrus had several abrasions on her hands, said police.

In a second case, Elias, 53, of 277 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown, is charged with resisting arrest and public drunkenness for running from Uniontown police who were called to Video Snax along Morgantown Street.

When Elias saw police coming, he allegedly identified himself falsely, and tried to knock officer David Rutter down to get away. Rutter caught Elias, and he allegedly continued to resist arrest.

In that case, Elias will receive a three- to 23-month sentence.

The two sentences will run concurrently, said Assistant District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr.

Elias is set to plea on Monday before Judge Gerald R. Solomon.