A Carbon County man admitted stealing from his grandmother to get money to buy drugs.

Avery Marshall Ziegenfus, 21, of Jim Thorpe, appeared before Judge Steven R. Serfass on Tuesday to enter pleas in three pending cases.He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one each of criminal trespass and driving under the influence.Ziegenfus was charged for an incident on Nov. 12, 2014 at the home of Vera Schaeffer, 4112 White St., Bowmanstown, his grandmother. He stole cash, jewelry and a handgun among other items.The second theft incident occurred on Nov. 13, 2014 in Franklin Township. He stole a Ford 350 truck belonging to PennDOT. The vehicle was found a short time later undamaged.The mischief and DUI count occurred on Nov. 12, 2014 when state police responded to a reported entry at 45 Blackberry Lane, Penn Forest Township. A description of the vehicle involved was obtained a later stopped by troopers with Ziegenfus the driver. He showed signs of impairment and submitted to a blood test. The result showed the presence of a controlled substance.Ziegenfus said he stole to feed a heroin habit that, he said, took over his life.Serfass deferred sentencing so Ziegenfus could apply for placement in the state Intermediate Punishment Program. The program runs for about two years and includes time spent in a state prison, plus placement in a inpatient drug program and later release to a halfway house to be monitored before being paroled.