Pottstown Man to Represent Himself in Charges

"He who represents himself has a fool for a client." -Abraham Lincoln

Erik D. Deger doesn't seem to think so.

The Pottstown resident is scheduled to represent himself in an upcoming case in which he is charged with assault of a borough officer.

"Deger, 27, of the 1300 block of South St., of Pottstown, waived his right to have a lawyer and told a Montgomery County judge on Monday that he wants a jury trial on charges of simple assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in connection with an alleged May 2011 incident," said an article in the Pottstown Mercury.

Jury selection for the case is scheduled to being on Tuesday.

“There will be no theatrics, no histrionics,” said Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy. The judge, who was formerly juvenile court judge who is now presiding in adult criminal court, warned Deger about proper courtroom trial etiquette, according to the Mercury report.

The defendent stated he understood.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara McMenamin, according to the report. Deger faces 2 to 4-and-a-half years in prison for allegedly assaulting a borough police officer. An earlier charge of aggravated assault was dismissed.

Deger's charges stem from a May 1, 2011 incident when Pottstown Borough Police were called to his residence for a report of domestic disturbance. Deger reportedly blocked entry to the home, and fought Officer Matthew Green during arrest.

“Deger’s actions worked to cause a disturbance in the neighborhood,” Green said in reports.

For the full court coverage of the case, visit the article here.