A Slatington man was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday in Carbon County court for assaulting his estranged wife.

James Clayton Silvers, 38, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison on a count of simple assault. He previously pleaded guilty to the charge.Serfass rejected a request for a sentence in the low end of the standard sentencing range, which was three months, and also denied a weekend sentence for the defendant.Silvers was arrested on Sept. 7 when Palmerton police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Mauch Chunk Road, for a domestic assault. On scene officers learned that Silvers had punched his wife under the left eye during an argument.Defense attorney Hollianne Crystal Snyder, of the public defender's office, told the court Silvers had a history of mental health issues, which she blamed for his criminal record. She also said he has abused alcohol.Silvers told the court, "Words can't express how I feel about what happened. I take full responsibility."Serfass noted that Silvers' prior criminal record is "significant," which includes a simple assault conviction. He added, "I feel a low-end sentence is not appropriate."In addition to the prison term, Serfass ordered Silvers to get both comprehensive drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, make restitution of $985.38 for medical expenses, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole, render 100 hours of community service when paroled and have no contact with the victim.He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. March 6.