Carbon County court

A Tamaqua man was sentenced on Friday to a county prison term after previously pleading guilty to theft and false identification to law enforcement.

Judge Joseph J. Matika sentenced John Steven Forian, 53, to serve nine to one day less 24 months in prison on both counts with the terms running concurrently.

He was arrested on Aug. 30, 2017, by police for an incident at the Walmart store where he used the name of a deceased person to make a purchase. He left the store before the arrival of Mahoning Township police but was stopped later by Tamaqua police. Two flat-screen televisions he had stolen from the store were found in his vehicle.

Forian told Matika that he has had a drug addiction problem.

Matika noted Forian has previous convictions in New Jersey.

Forian is currently serving a six to 23 months prison term in Schuylkill County.

Matika ordered him to supply a DNA sample, get a mental health evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, make restitution of $822.56 to Walmart, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee when paroled.

Matika, who gave Forian 14 days credit on his sentence, ruled it run concurrent with Schuylkill County.