A Grand Valley man has pleaded guilty to a felony strangulation charge in the Court of Common Pleas.

William F. Birchard, 47, was charged in January with second-degree felony strangulation by the State Police at Warren after a woman arrived at the State Police barracks in Warren claiming she had been harassed and then assaulted. Birchard was arraigned and taken to the Warren County Prison on $75,000 bail.

Birchard appeared in court March 19. The felony charge was replaced by a misdemeanor charge of strangulation – applying pressure to throat or neck, to which Birchard pleaded guilty. The case was heard by President Judge Gregory Hammond.

The woman told police she arrived at a Grand Valley address between 4 and 5 a.m. Jan. 3 after agreeing to meet Birchard to discuss child custody arrangements. Birchard allegedly came out of the house and got into the passenger side of the woman’s car. There was a verbal disagreement, according to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by police, before Birchard allegedly put his hands around the woman’s throat and squeezed it.

Other pleas before Judge Hammond on March 19 include:

– Terri Rosequist, 62, of Grand Valley pleaded guilty to one count of harassment while charges of second-degree felony strangulation, simple assault and criminal mischief were not prosecuted.

– Scotlyn Seyler, 27, of Warren pleaded guilty to a charge of DUI: general impairment (BAC .08-.10%) – first offense while charges of DUI: controlled substance – combination alcohol/drugs – first offense and DUI: controlled substance – schedule 1 – first offense were not prosecuted. Two traffic citations were also not prosecuted.

– Peggy Loosz, 58, of Grand Valley pleaded guilty to DUI: general impairment of driving safely – first offense while charges of DUI: highest rate of alcohol (BAC .16% or higher) and a traffic citation were not prosecuted.