Man pleads guilty to pulling gun on police

A Lehighton man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Monday to assault and related counts involving a police officer and a deadly weapon.

James Parsons, 59, pleaded guilty before Judge Steven R. Serfass to one count each of simple assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threats with a deadly weapon, persistent disorderly conduct, institutional vandalism and summary counts of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. In exchange for the plea, a charge of aggravated assault was dropped.

On Nov. 25, 2018, Lehighton responded to the 600 block of Iron Street for a report of a man in a yard acting strangely.

On scene, officers found Parsons highly intoxicated and out-of-control. When officers approached him to take him into custody he pulled a handgun from a holster. Police quickly disarmed him and took him into custody.

Parsons has been an inmate in the county prison since the incident.

On the assault and threats count Serfass sentenced him to serve three to one day less 24 months in the county prison with the terms running concurrently.

On the other counts he was placed on probation for a total of 18 months consecutive to the other charges.

On the two summary offenses he was fined $600 and costs. He was also ordered to pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation and render a total of 275 hours of community service.

He was given credit for 107 days already served on the charges.