Ian Niles Thrasher, 37, of Tamaqua, appeared before Judge Joseph Matika in Carbon County Court Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one count of theft, as a felony three.

He was charged by Summit Hill police with removing a safe from the home of Ralph Parsons, of 6 E. Hazard St., and taking the contents, which included money and other valuable items.Parsons told Matika that he had helped Thrasher by taking him to work and helping out in other ways, including giving him money. He said some of the items taken, including a gold coin, could never be replaced and was a family item with a lot of emotion attached to it.Thrasher said he stole to support a heroin addiction. He said he sold the stolen items for cash to buy drugs.Thrasher told Matika, "I'm ashamed for what I did. I hope Ralph could forgive me."Matika told Parsons that people who are drug addicts don't care about the consequences of their actions or who they hurt; all they think about is getting money for drugs.It was noted Thrasher is facing two burglary charges in Schuylkill County.Matika sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison and ordered he make restitution to Parsons of $2,373, have no contact with Parsons or his family, render 50 hours of community service when released on parole, and supply a DNA sample.