A Penn Forest Township man, scheduled to go on trial this week in Carbon County court on indecent assault charges, instead entered a guilty plea and was immediately sentenced to a prison term.

Jesse John Cannon, 38, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of indecent assault and was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve six to 18 months in the county prison.Cannon was scheduled to go on trial, in fact a jury was seated and ready to start hearing testimony, when the defendant entered a plea agreement. In exchange for the plea another count of indecent assault and one of corruption of a minor were dropped.Cannon was charged by state police at Fern Ridge for an incident on Feb. 29, 2008. Troopers said Cannon entered the home of a friend and the bedroom of a then 11-year-old girl and inappropriately "touched" her. Cannon admitted to being highly intoxicated at the time.Nanovic also ordered Cannon to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee, be evaluated by the sexual offenders board and pay a $50 per month supervision fee. The charge does not fall under the provisions of Megan's Law.He will begin the jail term on March 1 at 6 p.m. and was granted work release privileges.Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton prosecuted the case. Cannon was represented by Atty. Brian J. Collins.