A Lehighton man admitted assaulting his girlfriend in a guilty plea before Carbon County President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Dale Neal Schleicher III, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault for an incident on Jan. 15 in East Penn Township. State police at Lehighton responded to the700 block of West Lizard Creek Road for a reported assault involving a female. On scene officers learned that the woman and Schleicher were arguing in a vehicle. When the woman pulled into the driveway of the home and got out of the car, Schleicher pushed her to the ground and dragged her along the ground.Schleicher admitted to an addiction problem that is over 20 years long.He is currently an inmate in the county prison on a pending probation violation proceeding.It was also noted the victim wrote a letter asking that the charges be dropped. Schleicher is facing a state prison term on the probation violation.Nanovic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.Schleicher was returned to the county prison awaiting his probation revocation hearing.