A Nesquehoning man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Thursday to one count each of simple assault and interfering with the communications center by making unsubstantiated calls to 911.

Daniel Schaller, 42, appeared before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to enter his pleas and was given a short prison term for the assault count and probation for the 911 charge.

Schaller was arrested on the assault count on Aug. 16, 2019, when Summit Hill police responded to a residence along West Fell Street. On scene police found the victim of the assault outside with visible injuries to his face. He was taken to St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale for treatment.

Police learned that earlier in the day Schaller and the victim were at a party at another residence in the borough and got into an altercation. The victim left the party and went home, but several hours later Schaller appeared at the victim’s residence and assaulted him.

Schaller was charged for the second offense on Jan. 1. Schaller called the county communications center shortly after midnight to report a drunken driver along West Fell Street. Police responded and found no drunken driver but found Schaller outside yelling. Police then cleared the scene. The police report further stated that Schaller made five more calls to the communications center reporting a drunken driver. In all, police could not find any drunken driver.

Schaller, who lived in Summit Hill at the time of the incidents, said his problems are tied to an alcohol abuse problem which he is addressing. He claimed he has “cut back” on his consumption, but Nanovic said that was not enough.

On the assault charge Nanovic sentenced Schaller to serve 30 days to 12 months in prison, and on the second count one year probation, consecutive to the assault charge.

Schaller was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance for alcohol use, attend and successfully complete an anger management course, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation.

He will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25 and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.