A Carbon County man pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault a day before he was scheduled to go on trial on four criminal charges.

Frederick J. Baker, 26, of Jim Thorpe and formerly of Lansford, on Thursday pleaded to the indecent assault count as a misdemeanor two. In a plea bargain with the district attorney's office the charge was added to the criminal complaint.Originally Baker was charged with two counts each of corruption of a minor, as felonies, and indecent assault, as misdemeanors.Baker was scheduled to face a jury today on the four original counts. A jury panel was selected on Monday to hear the case.Baker was charged by Lehighton police Sgt. Scott S. Prebosnyak with having sexual contact with two girls, who were 7 and 8 at the time. The assaults occurred during the time frame of July 2011 to July 2013.The father of the girls spoke with police in June 2013. The father told police that the girls had returned home from a visitation with their mother, and began to teach his young son a "game" named after a slang term for a female body part.The father said he told the girls to "stop talking like that." A few days later, his wife overheard the girls use the term again, and then she talked with the girls about the "game."Prebosnyak, in theaffidavit of probable cause, wrote he received ChildLine reports concerning alleged assault, and also received a report from the Carbon County Children and Youth ServicesAgency.On July 5, 2013, the girls were interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center in Scranton. Both described how Baker had allegedly touched them, and that he would laugh and continue when they told him his touching was painful.The girls said Baker would only stop if someone was coming into the room. They also said the "game" had been going on for a "long time," both inside and outside the home.Prebosnyak contacted Baker, who agreed to speak to him but only with his lawyer present.During an interview with the officer, with his attorney present, Baker denied the allegations. Prebosnyak filed the charges on July 25, 2013.Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the plea but deferred sentencing. Because the charge falls under the provisions of Megan's Law, Baker must be evaluated by the state sexual offenders assessment board to determine if he is a sexual violent predator.Sentencing will occur after the state board issues a ruling.