A Lehighton man was scheduled to enter guilty pleas on Monday in Carbon County court in three pending criminal cases but changed his mind in one of the matters.

Christopher J. George, 40, pleaded to charges of accidents involving death/injury to property or vehicle, driving under suspension and unsworn falsification to authorities.

The first two counts stem from an incident on May 2, 2018, filed by Mahoning Township police.

Police responded to a crash along Mill Road in which an all-terrain vehicle was involved in a crash with another vehicle. The ATV driver fled the scene. Through an investigation, township police determined that George was the driver of the ATV.

The unsworn charge stems from an incident at Bucks Sporting Goods store in Franklin Township. George attempted to purchase a gun, and in filling out the application falsely answered a question concerning any prior criminal convictions.

George was also scheduled to plead in a case dating back to 2013. He was going to plead to one count of recklessly endangering another person. Lehighton police said on April 1, 2013, George recklessly drove a vehicle down Coal Street, almost striking two 10-year-old boys.

The boys said George exited the vehicle and threatened their lives, then left. The police report indicated that the two victims were involved in an incident earlier with George’s son, which led him to come to the area.

After Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton read the police information into the record, Judge Steven R. Serfass asked George if he agreed with the facts as stated.

George denied driving a vehicle recklessly and also denied threatening the two boys.

A case history showed the case has been continued at least 20 times for reasons such as George missing court dates with warrants issued for his arrest.

Also, continuances granted when he planned to plead guilty, changed his mind and wanted a trial, only to change his mind and enter a plea agreement.

Serfass said he would not accept the plea and said the case would be put on the August criminal trial term list.

Serfass accepted the pleas in the other two cases but deferred sentencing since George has a pending date in DUI court.