A Weatherly man was sentenced to a state prison term Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to aggravated assault on an inmate.

Brandon Joseph Zeigler, 24, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution.Zeigler was arrested by Nesquehoning police for an incident on Aug. 31, 2015, at the county prison. Police were called to the prison by corrections officers for an assault on an inmate. Zeigler admitted assaulting Eric Cardone in his cell and causing injuries that required medical attention. At the time Zeigler was serving time for a probation violation.Zeigler told Matika, "I'm here to take responsibility for my actions." He added, "I want to apologize to the victim."Zeigler said the assault occurred because he believed that Cardone had given his girlfriend "a hard time."Defense Attorney Kim M. Gillen requested a county prison term, but that was rejected by Matika.Matika noted that Zeigler has a longtime drug addiction problem in which he spent time in short-term rehabilitation programs only to relapse each time. He told Zeigler, "You need to address the underlying drug problem, and the help you need is in the state system."In addition to the jail term Matika ordered Zeigler to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on drug and alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000, render 50 hours of community service when paroled, and pay restitution to the county for damages to the cell at the prison totaling $1,709.64.He was given credit for 118 days already spent in jail on the charge.