A Carbon County woman, accused of stabbing her companion with a knife, entered a guilty plea in the county court on Tuesday afternoon.

Frances Ann Hallman, 62, of 27 Penn Ave., Palmerton, Lower Towamensing Township, pleaded to one count of simple assault. In a plea bargain with the district attorney's office, a more serious charge of aggravated assault was dropped.State police at Lehighton charged Hallman following an incident that occurred on April 15 at her residence. Troopers responded to the home and were told by Donald Hemptzel that Hallman had stabbed him with a kitchen steak knife.The victim said he and Hallman got into an argument earlier in the day regarding him smoking in the residence. The police report stated the victim said Hallman grabbed a knife from the kitchen and began stabbing him in the arms while he was pinned against a corner in the kitchen. He attempted to get the knife away from Hallman, but she kept stabbing him in the arm.Hemptzel claimed he never touched Hallman.Hallman told troopers that Hemptzel grabbed her by the neck and started slamming her head against the living room coffee table. Hallman said he kept chasing her around the residence, so she grabbed a kitchen knife. He attempted to kick him so she started to stab him.On Tuesday it was stated that Hemptzel received three stab wounds and was taken to the Palmerton hospital for treatment.The plea agreement includes the weapons enhancement provision, which means Hallman could face a jail term at the time of sentencing.Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the plea but deferred sentencing to a later date, ordering the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation. Hallman has been an inmate in the county prison since the incident, unable to post bail.