A Butler man already jailed on charges he attacked his girlfriend finds himself in more trouble after he called her from behind bars to allegedly convince her not to testify against him at two related court hearings.

Justin M. Castilyn, 35, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony charge of intimidation of a witness or victim.

Following arraignment before District Judge Pete Shaffer, the defendant was returned to the Butler County Prison on a new bail of $25,000.

Castilyn has been locked up since Jan. 7 when Butler police arrested him after he allegedly choked his girlfriend, 33-year-old Brandi Sue Antonelli, during a domestic dispute at their apartment on West Cunningham Street.

Butler police said Antonelli suffered minor injuries, including “bruising, redness and swelling” on her neck, in the suspected assault.

Her boyfriend was charged with simple assault and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for Jan. 12.

Antonelli the next day obtained a temporary protection from abuse order against Castilyn. A hearing for a permanent protective order was set for Jan. 15.

According to the temporary PFA, the defendant was not to contact his girlfriend.

Butler County detectives however, allege in the latest charging documents that Castilyn on Jan. 9 began calling Antonelli, asking her not to appear in court or testify against him at either hearing.

“Don't come (Jan. 12), they are going to try and get 5 years on me,” he implores Antonelli during the 15-minute call, court documents said.

According to prison policy, all outgoing calls made from the jail are recorded — except those to inmates' attorneys. And it is common practice for prosecutors to request those recordings as part of their investigations.

Inmates are alerted that their calls are being recorded.

Detectives said Castilyn between Jan. 9 and 13 made more than a dozen phone calls during which he pleaded with Antonelli not to testify at one or both of the hearings.

Excerpts of some of those phone conversations were included in the criminal complaint.

Castilyn's outreach apparently succeeded because Antonelli did not show up for the preliminary hearing or the PFA hearing.

The defendant, on the advice of his attorney, Armand Cingolani, nevertheless waived the simple assault charge to court.

Cingolani on Tuesday said he based his decision on the thinking that his client would be able to post the $1,500 bail and be released from jail, and that ultimately the domestic case would be resolved favorably.

But after authorities learned of the prior phone calls to Antonelli, Castilyn was charged with violating the temporary PFA, which amounted to a probation violation and kept him in jail.

When Antonelli did not appear for the final PFA hearing on Jan. 15, the temporary order was dismissed, court records showed.

“It is quite apparent that Castilyn attempted to influence Antonelli so that she would not appear for either court action,” Chief Detective Charles Barger said in the complaint.

Cingolani said he is prepared to defend his client on the latest charge.

“I think it's extremely dubious that they can maintain a felony witness intimidation charge,” he said, “when the victim does not confirm their belief of intimidation.”