A Luzerne County man, set to go on trial Monday in Carbon County court, instead pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.

In entering the plea agreement, Joseph James Haggerty, 26, of Conyngham, avoided facing trial on a felony 2 count of statutory sexual assault and a felony 3 count of corruption of minors.

He was charged by state police at Hazleton on Aug. 30, 2021, for incidents on April 1, 2021.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Haggerty admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

The girl’s mother originally reported the sexual encounter to police after seeing text messages from Haggerty on her daughter’s phone. The girl’s mother said that Haggerty admitted to having sex with her daughter and asked the mom not to go to police.

The girl’s mother went to state police on June 6, 2021, and later that day police interviewed Haggerty who admitted he and the girl had sex.

Police interviewed the girl on July 12, 2021, and she verified the incident.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the plea but deferred sentencing to 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton is the prosecutor. Haggerty is represented by Attorney Mark W. Bufalino.