An Albrightsville man on Tuesday told a Carbon County court judge that he stole copper from a vacant house because he panicked after losing his job, leaving him no way to support his three small children.

Darrin A. Griffin, 35, who pleaded guilty to burglary in April, said he regretted taking the metal from the home in July 2012."The answer is not to break into a home and steal the copper," said Assistant District Attorney Jean A. EnglerThe home was in foreclosure, and no one is seeking restitution, Engler said.Judge Steven Serfass sentenced Griffin to six months to one day less than 24 months in jail, followed by a year of probation. He also must perform 150 hours of community service, and pay court costs and fees.Griffin must provide a DNA sample, and will be eligible for work release.In another case, Serfass sentenced Anita Fernandes, 30, of Harrisburg, to 60 days, with one day of credit for time served, and fined her $500. She must also serve one year of probation and perform 50 hours of community service.Fernandes on June 20 pleaded guilty to giving false identification to police, and to failing to have a child properly restrained in a car seat. Serfass fined her $100 on the car seat charge.Also on Tuesday, Serfass sentenced Jamie Bartholomew, 31, of Lehighton, to 64 days to 24 months in jail, and gave him credit for the 64 days he has served, on a simple assault charge. He also must perform 100 hours of community service.Bartholomew also must pay $4,518.05 in restitution to his victim, Eliza Lesko, whose sustained facial injuries in the Oct. 15 incident.Lesko's father attended the hearing"Drugs caused this to happen. If people would just stop using drugs, we wouldn't have these problems," he said.