A Monroe County man, charged with setting an oxygen line on fire in the emergency room at the Gnaden Huetten Campus of Blue Mountain Health System, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday in Carbon County court.

James Akowi Mauhili, 34, of Pocono Summit, pleaded to one count of risking a catastrophe but mentally ill before Judge Steven R. Serfass. Two felony one arson counts were dropped in a plea bargain.According to Lehighton police officer Neal A. Ebbert, Mauhili lit the fire in the emergency room of the hospital at about 5:50 a.m. on Jan. 26, 2016. Earlier that morning Mauhili is also accused of lighting a fire behind a Walmart store in Mount Pocono.Ebbert wrote in his affidavit that he received a call at 5:50 a.m. Jan. 26 about a man attempting to light a fire in the emergency room of the hospital.At the hospital, nurses Eddie Berger and Paul Vrablic told Ebbert that Mauhili had been brought to the hospital for treatment by his mother.The affidavit says Mauhili was placed into a room and advised he had to change into hospital clothes. He refused."When the nurse came back into the room, he observed (Mauhili) igniting the oxygen line on fire. He was using a lighter," the affidavit says. "This oxygen line is a live feed of oxygen from the main tank to be used for treatment of patients."Damage to the hospital was minimal."Nurse Vrablic had to take measures to place the fire under control to prevent further damage or injuries to people on scene. Nurse Berger advised (Mauhili) that he could have injured, killed or cause an explosion to the hospital. He stated he did not care," the affidavit says.Vrablic received a slight burn on his right hand while extinguishing the fire.On Tuesday, Mauhili was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. He is an inmate in the state correctional institution at Laurel Highlands on other charges in Monroe County.Defense attorney Paul Levy, of the public defender's office, said his client has a history of serious mental health issues. He said since his incarceration in the state system he has been receiving counseling and the proper medication for his mental illness. He said Mauhili now has a clear mind and knows what is going on.Levy asked that the minimum prison term be imposed.Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo did not agree with that request. He told Serfass that Mauhili already "got a substantial break" when the commonwealth agreed to drop the two felony arson charges.Serfass sentenced him to serve three to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he get a mental health evaluation, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee. He was given credit for 90 days spent in prison on the charges and paroled.Ron Gower contributed to this story