A Lehighton man was sentenced to a state prison term on Thursday in Carbon County court for a series of thefts at a Mahoning Township business.

James S. McMurray, 35, was sentenced to serve a total of 30 to 72 months in a state correctional institution in nine criminal cases which he previously pleaded guilty.McMurray pleaded to counts of theft by deception, retail theft and possession of an instrument of crime. He also pleaded to identity theftand the illegal use ofthe victim's credit card.On April 11 McMurray pleaded to one count each of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and access device fraud before Judge Steven R. Serfass.He was charged by Palmerton police with taking the debit card of a borough resident and using it to make 10 separate transactions, which included purchases and withdrawals from ATMs totaling $1,804.33 in value. Serfass accepted the pleas but deferred sentencing to Matika because of the other seven cases he had entered pleas to before him.McMurray was charged with his part in thefts at the Lowe's store 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 told the court, "I just got deeper and deeper. I deeply regret it and hope when I get out I can do good things."In addition to the jail term, Matika ordered McMurray to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, render a total of 75 hours community service when paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000 and make total restitution of $738.86 to Lowe's, which is his share, and $1,804.33 to the victim in the Palmerton case. On a drug paraphernalia charge he was fined $100.He was given credit for a total of 172 days spent in jail on the charges. He has been in prison since his arrest.