Lancaster man sentenced to 20 years for assault

A Lancaster man pleaded guilty Thursday to assault and battery charges from a December incident in which authorities say he assaulted the mother of his child.

Danny Nelson, 48, was sentenced to 20 years after entering a guilty plea to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to the Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Nelson has been held in the Lancaster County Detention Center since his arrest in December.

According to evidence presented in court, Nelson forced the victim to leave her home and subsequently choked her and threatened to kill her.

At a plea hearing, Deputy Solicitor Lisa Collins asked the court to sentence Nelson to the maximum sentence of 20 years, noting the Nelson has a lengthy criminal record which includes convictions for assault and battery with intent to kill, criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and burglary.

Judge Brian Gibbons sentenced Nelson to 20 years.

According to the solicitor’s office, Nelson is not eligible for parole and will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being released on intensive community supervision.

This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Lancaster man sentenced to 20 years for assault."