A Lehighton man was sentenced to a state prison term on Monday in Carbon County court on charges he took nude photos of a young girl.

Judge Steven R. Serfass sentenced Dallas H. Krotzer, 38, to serve 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution. He previously pleaded to one count of photography/film/depicting of computer sex act knowingly or permitting child sex act, a felony 2.

Lehighton police received information from the family of a then 12-year-old girl who saw a photograph of herself on a phone showing her genital area. The photo, the police investigation revealed, was taken at Krotzer’s home.

He admitted taking the picture of the girl with his phone while the girl was sleeping. He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2019.

Serfass didn’t go along with a plea bargain in which the commonwealth and defense counsel had recommended a 12-month minimum term. He said Krotzer’s conduct was “disturbing and despicable.”

Serfass told the defendant that he could have imposed a 24-month minimum term but did not because the Krotzer cooperated with police when confronted and agreed to a plea bargain, sparing the young victim from having to testify at a trial.

Assistant District Attorney Brian B. Gazo, who prosecuted the case, said the victim, through her guardian, agreed to the plea bargain. He said almost from the start, Krotzer admitted his guilt and willingness to cooperate. He said he would be satisfied with a one-year minimum sentence.

Krotzer admitted to a drug and alcohol problem. He claimed he was high on cocaine at the time he took the photographs of the victim. He has since sought help by entering an inpatient program for 30 days. Defense attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said his client has taken full responsibility for his actions.

Krotzer told Serfass, “I’m really sorry for what I did. If I could go back and take it all back I would.”

In addition to the prison term Serfass ordered Krotzer to follow all registration requirements of Megan’s Law, get a sexual offender evaluation, have no contact with the victim, have no unsupervised contact with minor children, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, supply a DNA sample and pay court costs of about $1,000. He must also register as a sexual offender for the next 25 years.

Serfass also denied Krotzer’s request to delay the start of the prison term and ordered him immediately remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s department.