Carbon man given prison term for assault incident

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of simple assault.

David Ackley, 28, of Lehighton, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve 11 and a half to 23 months in prison. The term runs concurrent with an 11 and a half to 23 months prison term he is serving in Monroe County that began in January.

Ackley was charged by Mahoning Township police for an incident on April 8, 2017, at a Mahoning Drive West address. Police responded to a domestic dispute involving Ackley’s wife and a 5-month-old infant as the victims of an assault.

Defense attorney Eric Wiltrout, of the public defender’s office, said his client has been dealing with drug addiction and mental health issues.

In addition to the prison term, Ackley was ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, render 50 hours of community service, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.

He was given credit for 11 days spent in jail on the charge.