A Lehighton man entered guilty pleas on Friday in seven pending criminal cases before Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika.

James Scott McMurray, 35, pleaded to four counts of theft by deception, two counts of retail theft and one count of possession of an instrument of crime.McMurray was charged with his part in thefts at the Lowe's store in Mahoning Township that occurred in May 2016. McMurray and a co-defendant, William Tworkowsky, of Allentown, would attempt to make fraudulent returns of merchandise that they had not purchased to get cash. Tworkowsky pleaded guilty in the matters and has been sentenced.McMurray is currently an inmate in the county prison.Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.