A Carbon County man admitted assaulting his then girlfriend, twice, and driving drunk, in the county court on Thursday.

He entered a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.David M. Palka, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded in two pending cases to two counts of simple assault and one of driving under the influence.He was arrested on the one assault count and the DUI charge on June 13 by Franklin Township police. Palka and his then girlfriend got into an argument in a vehicle in the township.During the argument she got out of the passenger side and went to the driver's side in an attempt to stop Palka from driving. The vehicle moved, knocking her to the ground causing a head injury. He also had assaulted her while she was in the vehicle.Palka then drove her to the Lehighton hospital. Hospital personnel called police, who found Palka in the emergency room area intoxicated. He admitted driving his vehicle to the hospital and assaulting the woman.The other assault occurred on Feb. 3 at 901 Princeton Ave., in Palmerton. Borough police responded to an apartment at that location for a reported domestic dispute. On scene police found the woman had been struck by Palka.Defense Attorney Paul Levy told the court Palka had an alcohol abuse problem and all the incidents occurred while he was under the influence. Levy said his client gets violent when drunk.Palka claimed he tried to get into a rehab center but couldn't, citing financial reasons.On the DUI charge Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension, must get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and make restitution to the woman for $535. He was given credit for 34 days spent in jail on the charge and was paroled.On the first simple assault charge he was sentenced to serve three to 18 months in the county prison concurrent with the DUI charge with 34 days credit. The same sentence was imposed on the second assault count, concurrent to the others.He will begin his jail term on the time remaining at 6 p.m. on Oct. 20.