Pa. Lawyer Chained Pregnant Girlfriend to Couch, Authorities Charge

A defense lawyer in Blair County, Pa., has been charged with chaining his pregnant girlfriend to a sofa.

Mark Zearfaus, 40, allegedly restrained the 28-year-old woman at her home by attaching her ankle to the couch with a 31-foot chain and a couple of padlocks, after the two argued Friday morning, according to WTAJ.

He has been charged with simple assault and false imprisonment after allegedly leaving her there for seven hours, reports the Altoona Mirror.

"Zearfaus says that while his girlfriend was chained to the sofa, the action was part of a mutual effort they were making to help the woman deal with her drug problem," the WTAJ article states. Hence, because of what Zearfaus says was mutual consent to the chaining, Zearfaus expects the charges to be dismissed, the article explains.