A Carbon County man admitted in county court on Monday to assaulting the owner of a Jim Thorpe restaurant/pub.

John M. Lazo Jr., 38, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault, as a misdemeanor 2, for an incident on Oct. 23, 2022, at Molly Maguires Pub & Steakhouse, 5 Hazard Square.

In exchange for the plea a misdemeanor 1 count of terroristic threats and two summary offenses were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

According to police, Lazo was visibly intoxicated in the bar area of the restaurant and was told to leave. He left the area but returned through another entrance and assaulted the business owner from behind. A video surveillance system captured the attack.

The owner told the court he still suffers physically and mentally from the attack and worries if it will happen again.

Lazo told Judge Steven R. Serfass he has not consumed any alcohol since the incident and that he promises never to go into the business again and that the victim need not worry about him. He spent 12 days in prison on the charges before posting bail.

He told the court, “I apologize for my actions that day. I want to put this behind me. I feel bad for what I’ve done.”

Sentencing was deferred so that the business owner can submit a claim for restitution for damages.