A Lehighton man was sentenced to placement in a state correctional institution program for drug abusers on Monday.

Stephen Richard Lassel, 26, of Lehighton, was placed in the state's Intermediate Punishment program by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic. Lassel previously pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property. He was charged by state police at Lehighton on July 2, 2015.Lassel's sentencing proceeding was done by video from the state correctional institution at Camp Hill, Dauphin County. On March 18 Lassel was placed in the state IP in Monroe County for similar charges. The Carbon and Monroe placements run concurrent.The state IP program has a defendant spend seven months in prison followed by an extended period in an inpatient rehabilitation program followed by time in a halfway house before being released. Lassel admitted to a long-term drug abuse problem and said he wanted to get help and feels the state program is the best for him.In entering the program, the 10 months that he has spent in prison to date on the Carbon and Monroe charges will not be credited to him. Lassel told Nanovic he had heard good things about the IP program and added, "I just want to get control of my life."Nanovic also ordered Lassel to make restitution of $442.38, pay court costs of about $1,000 and supply a DNA sample. Nanovic also ruled that IP program will be followed by two years of state probation.