A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term for driving drunk with his then 2-year-old son in the vehicle.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic refused a county prison term for Anthony Lee Ritton, 25, of Palmerton, and sentenced him on a driving under the influence charge to serve six months to five years in a state correctional institution.On an endangering the welfare of a child charge a state term of six to 36 months was imposed, concurrent with the DUI charge.Ritton was arrested on March 15 by state police at Lehighton along Route 248 in Franklin Township following a traffic stop. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. Troopers also charged him with endangering the welfare of a child.Ritton pleaded to both counts Thursday. Ritton has been in jail since the arrest and is facing a parole revocation proceeding in Lehigh County. He is being held on a detainer from Lehigh County, meaning he has no credit on the Carbon charges.Nanovic said he looked at Ritton's long criminal record and asked, "Why is there any reason today that I should think you would do anything different."Nanovic noted that on most of the prior convictions, Ritton was given probation sentences. Last year, he was revoked by Lehigh County for violating his parole on a DUI charge by committing another crime. Nanovic said it is likely that Lehigh will impose another jail term.Ritton told Nanovic he has learned this time because he has a son to worry about. He told the court, "This breaks my heart not to be with my son." He blamed the people he "hung around with" for most of his problems.Nanovic responded, "I have a defendant sobbing that he learned his lesson, but is facing another revocation."Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton said she supported the state prison term. She said looking at Ritton's record and all the violations, the state system is the best place to "straighten him out."In addition to the prison term, Nanovic imposed a fine of $1,500, suspended his license for 18 months. He must pay court costs of about $1,000 and render 100 hours of community service when released on parole.