A former Lehighton woman who endangered her young son with illegal drugs entered a guilty plea on Carbon County court on Monday.

Shannon Louise Ahner, 32, of Shenandoah, pleaded to one count of endangering the welfare of a child.She was arrested on Oct. 26, 2012, when agents of the state Attorney General's office served a search warrant on her then residence at 378 W. Lizard Creek Road in East Penn Township.When agents entered the home they found various drug items and paraphernalia in the home. Agents said heroin packages were on a coffee table in the home with her then 4-year-old son having access to those drugs.Defense Attorney Gregory Lee Mousseau, of the public defender's office, told Nanovic that Ahner lost her daughter, twin to her son, at a very young age and turned to drugs to help handle the tragedy. He said since her arrest she had sought help for her addiction. Mousseau also noted it was Ahner's first criminal offense of any kind.Ahner told the court she was getting counseling and is seeking additional help through a program in Schuylkill County, where she now lives. She also said she is the sole provider for her son, who is now 8.Nanovic asked her, "Having lost a child, why would you have your son close to drugs?"Nanovic said he would go along with the plea agreement for a probation term but warned her any violation of the conditions would mean a jail term.Nanovic placed her on probation for two years and ordered her to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.