BELLEFONTE -- A University student who allegedly beat his former girlfriend was bound over for trial yesterday on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and harassment.

District Justice Clifford H. Yorks ordered Barry W. McCarthy, 21, 123 N. Barnard St., to stand trial for allegedly assaulting Karen R. Parano, 522 E. College Ave., in his apartment on Feb. 10.

Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Jeff Yates, Parano testified that she and McCarthy had been involved in a "serious boyfriend-girlfriend relationship" during the 1989 Fall Semester, and in January she found out she was pregnant. On Feb. 8, McCarthy agreed to call her after classes and meet her the next day to talk about the situation, she said.

When McCarthy did not call her, Parano said she tried to contact him by phone and left a message on his answering machine.

Later, Parano took a taxi to McCarthy's house, which he shares with several other men, and waited for him from about 12:45 to 2:15 in the morning, she said.

Upon McCarthy's arrival, the two went upstairs and talked about the baby and how to handle the situation, she said. He became "abusive about my appearance and became aggressive" toward the end of the conversation, said Parano, who is also a student.

Parano testified that McCarthy spit on her as she tried to leave, and when she asked why he did so, he said, "You deserved it." McCarthy then pushed her onto the bed and punched her in the pelvis, she said.

"I screamed as loud as I could," she said. "There wasn't much I could do to get away from him."

McCarthy bent her hands backwards and told her, "I have to suffer so you have to suffer," she testified.

For about 30 to 45 minutes McCarthy, who was straddling Parano, repeatedly bounced up and down on her abdomen, she said. He also bit her on the head and hands and punched her stomach and between her legs, she said.

"I tried to get away every chance I got," she said.

Parano said when McCarthy got up to answer the telephone, she left his apartment and called police. She was then taken to Centre Community Hospital for treatment.

After the incident, doctors at the center checked for the fetus' heartbeat for about one hour, she said, and told her to see her obstetrician as soon as possible.

Parano has been undergoing treatment at the Hershey Medical Center for several weeks, and doctors have told her "there is a great chance of miscarriage," she testified.

"Everything was perfectly fine before" the incident, she added.

The police had filed charges against McCarthy on behalf of Parano's fetus when he was arrested Feb. 21, but those charges were dropped prior to the preliminary hearing.

Under state criminal law, such charges cannot be filed on behalf of a fetus.

Defense Attorney Joseph Amendola asked that the court dismiss the more serious charge, aggravated assault, because Parano did not suffer any significant injuries, such as broken bones or cuts that required stitches.

Yates said that because McCarthy was aware of Parano's pregnancy at the time of the alleged assault, he should be tried on the aggravated assault charge.

Amendola did not call any defense witnesses yesterday, and McCarthy, who is free on $5,000 bail, did not testify. A trial date has not been set.