NORWICH – A part-time county corrections officer accused of assaulting his girlfriend and detaining her against her will has waived the right for his case to go before a grand jury.

Edward J. Knuth Jr., 25, Norwich, waived his right to an indictment Monday before Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan and was instead arraigned on a Superior Court Information filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

The written accusation details the crimes which Knuth allegedly committed during a domestic dispute on the night of July 30. According to Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee, the former Marine struck his then-girlfriend “more than a dozen times,” held her against her will and caused her to fear for her life during the incident, which took place in the City of Norwich. The three-count SCI charges Knuth with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; first degree unlawful imprisonment, a class E felony; and third degree assault, a class A misdemeanor.

Knuth’s defense attorney, Frank Revoir, entered a plea of not guilty to all three counts on behalf of his client.

At present, Knuth is free on $20,000 bond, which is a bone of contention for the DA’s office. According to Dunshee, the man’s bail was initially set at $50,000, but was doubled to $100,000 following a subsequent hearing in Norwich City Court on Aug. 2, at which time Judge James Downey ordered a mental health evaluation.