A 32-year-old man pleaded no contest today to attacking his children's mother and his family member last month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

At today's court appearance, Robert Allen Shirley (dob 4/18/83) of Pomona pleaded no contest to three felony counts in case KA111879: injuring a child's parent, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting executive officer.

Additionally, Shirley admitted a special allegation that he used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife, during the commission of the crime.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced March 22 in Department R of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Branch. Shirley is expected to be sentenced to four years in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Kelsey McKeever-Unger of the Victim Impact Program, who prosecuted the case, said on Feb. 21 Shirley got into an argument with his children's mother in her Pomona home.

During the fight, Shirley's aunt, who lives next door, saw them in an altercation and called police for help, the prosecutor said.

When authorities arrived at the home, they discovered Shirley holding a knife to the aunt's throat, the prosecutor added.

As a result, law enforcement shot beanbags at the defendant in order to have him release the aunt, the prosecutor said.

After several shots, the woman broke free and police were able to subdue and arrest Shirley, according to the prosecutor.

The case was investigated by the Pomona Police Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case KA111879 / March 3, 2016