A Carbon County man admitted in Carbon County court on Monday to exposing his genitals to a young girl and was sentenced to a prison term.

Joseph Donald Bauer Jr., 72, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of indecent exposure before Judge Steven R. Serfass.The district attorney's office agreed to add the charge of indecent exposure to the criminal complaint and dropped two counts of indecent exposure and one of corruption of a minor in a plea bargain.Serfass rejected a defense plea by attorney Paul J. Levy to have the court impose a probation period, or in the alternative, house arrest term.Bauer was arrested for incidents that occurred over a period of time back in 2010 to 2013 when he was arrested by state police at Lehighton. Troopers received information from the county office of children and youth of a report of sexual abuse involving a then 12-year-old girl. The victim told troopers that while staying at Bauer's home he would climb into bed and touch her over a two-year period while she was between the ages of 8-11. The victim said she would pretend to be asleep when the incidents occurred.Serfass said he had a long time to review the facts of the case as there have been at least 11 continuances granted.Serfass said by the commonwealth agreeing to drop the other counts, Bauer does not face registration as a sexual offender because the exposure count does not fall under Megan's Law, as the dropped counts did.Serfass said the dropping of the other counts "does not negate the seriousness of the charge." He added, "It was not an isolated incident." The judge continued, "The court must consider the effects on the victim and the protection of the public."Serfass said he realizes Bauer's only brush with the law was many years ago but added that the incidents occurred on numerous occasions.Serfass sentenced Bauer to serve 3 to one day less 24 months in the county prison followed by one year of probation. He was also ordered to get a mental health evaluation, render 150 hours of community service after he is paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation, and have no contact with the victim.He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Nov. 2.