A Carbon County man on Monday was sentenced to a state prison term and must pay more than $71,000 in restitution after previously pleading guilty in two pending assault cases.

Shane C. Dease, 40, of Palmerton was sentenced to serve a total of 24 to 72 months in a state correctional institution by Judge Steven R. Serfass on a charge of aggravated assault. On a simple assault charge he was sentenced to serve six to 24 months in a state prison, concurrent with the first count. On a criminal mischief count he was sentenced to serve six to 24 months concurrent with the other charges.Dease was charged on April 23, 2013, for an incident at the office of District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe. He was at the office on another criminal matter when he became unruly. As police tried to get him under control he assaulted Lehighton police officer Robert DeFuso. Jim Thorpe police were called to the office to help restrain Dease. Jim Thorpe police charged him with aggravated assault and related offenses.The simple assault charge stems from an April 24, 2013, incident at the county prison. He assaulted correctional officer Richard Swartley. Nesquehoning police filed the charges.Dease, who is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Frackville, challenged Serfass' decision to run the term consecutive to the state prison term he is currently serving.A plea bargain with the district attorney's office stated that the commonwealth would not "oppose" a concurrent sentence. However, Serfass said he was not a party to that agreement and that the wording of the stipulation that the commonwealth would not oppose a concurrent sentence is not the same as if it was stated the commonwealth recommends a concurrent sentence. Serfass said the facts of the case warranted a state prison term.After consultation with his attorney, public defender Gregory Lee Mousseau, Dease said he understood the difference in the wording and was ready to be sentenced.At the start of the proceeding Mousseau told Serfass that Dease suffered "serious mental health problems." He said Dease has been on numerous medications over the years due to his mental health problems but instead of helping him, the medications seem to make it worse. He said he was not on any medications now and appears to be "clearheaded" and understands the wrong he has done.Dease told Serfass he has been hospitalized eight times since 2013 over his mental health issues.He said, "I didn't want to hurt anyone," and said he was sorry for his actions.Dease is facing a big restitution bill for medical bills related to the assaults. In addition to the jail term, Serfass ordered Dease to make total restitution of $71,186.72. The majority of the restitution is for the prison assault.He was also ordered to get both mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and follow any recommendation for treatment, attend and complete anger management counseling, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, pay court costs of abut $1,000, and supply a DNA sample.Dease is currently serving a 27- to 84-month state prison term imposed in Lehigh County.