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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A former Claysburg man has been sentenced to five to 10 years' incarceration, followed by five years' probation, to address charges filed in March 2023 when he was accused of attempting to smother a child and frightened others by firing a gun inside an apartment.
Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard imposed the negotiated sentence on Aug. 6 after Robert David Short III, 24, entered guilty pleas to felony counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault of a child less than 13 and endangering the welfare of a child. Short also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief/damage to property.
"I want to accept responsibility for what I did do," Short said in court, where charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and strangulation were dropped.
"Myself, that's the only person I was thinking about that night," Short said.
The woman who was in a relationship with Short before the March 7, 2023, incident advised Bernard that what seemed to be a fairytale relationship suddenly turned into a nightmare.
State police at Hollidaysburg who filed charges against Short accused him of becoming distraught inside the apartment on the 100 block of Edgewood Street in Greenfield Township, where he reportedly shoved a 2-year-old child's face into couch cushions, then retrieved a pistol and threatened to kill himself.
The woman said she and her children became scared and fled the apartment.
"There was an evil in Rob's eye that I did not recognize," she said in court.
In seeking refuge at a neighboring residence, police said the woman and her 10-year-old reported hearing gunfire.
Police said Short told them that he shot through a window and into the ceiling in an attempt to gain the nerve to shoot himself. Police also said he admitted to following the woman and children outside, where he fired a shot into the air.
The victim's mother also came to court and recalled arriving at the apartment where responding police officers had Short in custody.
"He could have murdered my grandsons and my daughter," she said.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Thomas told Bernard that the victim was in favor of the negotiated sentence and incarceration period. She also asked to have no future contact with Short, a provision that Bernard included in the sentencing order.
First Assistant Public Defender Julia Burke told Bernard that Short has "openly admitted that he was not in a good place that night" and has shown "tremendous remorse."
Burke said Short plans to serve his sentence and upon release, head to Ohio where he has family and can rebuild his life.
"I don't expect you'll ever see him in court again," Burke said.
Bernard told Short that his acceptance of responsibility was a positive factor in her decision to accept the negotiated plea.
"Clearly, you've committed unthinkable crimes here ... (with) collateral damage," she said.
The judge also told Short that his state prison sentence also gives him a chance to be evaluated for treatment and pursue recommendations.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.