A Nesquehoning man who stabbed his pregnant wife while high on drugs claiming the child was the “Antichrist,” pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Thursday afternoon and is facing a state prison term.

Dana Seidler, 35, appeared before Judge Joseph J. Matika to plea to one count each of aggravated assault on an unborn child, a felony 1, and possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon, a misdemeanor 1.

In exchange for the plea charges of criminal attempt - first degree murder of unborn child, criminal attempt - criminal homicide of unborn child, aggravated assault - attempts to cause severe bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, terroristic threats and two counts of simple assault were dropped in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office.

Seidler entered his plea via video conference from the county jail, where he has been held since the day of the incident.

Seidler was arrested on Oct. 21, 2019, by Nesquehoning police at his residence along West Railroad Street.

According to an affidavit filed by Nesquehoning police, officers were dispatched to the area of Mermon Avenue and West Railroad Street for a domestic.

Officers found a pregnant woman sitting on the porch of a home on West Railroad with a stab wound to the stomach and visible defensive wounds. She told police her husband, identified as Seidler, went back to their home after the incident.

Police went to the couple’s home and heard people talking inside. Officers were then able to identify Seidler, who was making his son read a piece of paper over and over again. Police ordered Seidler to come out, which he eventually did.

He was taken into custody by Nesquehoning police while officers from Jim Thorpe recovered the knife that was used in the incident. The boy in the home pointed out that it was an approximately 14-inch blade sword and showed police where it was located. The boy told police Seidler had been acting weird all day and had been reading the Bible for hours before hearing his mother yelling for help.

The boy was able to get his father to hand over the knife to him and tried to help his mother flee, but Seidler again chased her out of the home.

Lehighton ambulance was dispatched and treated the victim before transporting her to Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest for her wounds. Police said that at the time of the incident, Seidler was high on drugs. He apparently told investigators he thought the child his wife of carrying was the “Antichrist.”

The unborn child was not injured.

District Attorney Michael S. Greek said he agreed to drop the attempted homicide charges due to a problem with the testimony of Seidler’s wife. He said she was the only one who heard Seidler threaten to kill her which is the basis for the homicide charges. However, Greek said, the wife is now refusing to testify against Seidler.

Greek said, “I can’t compel her to testify against her husband.” He said without her testifying to the threat, he could not prove the homicide charges.

Matika told Seidler that under state sentencing guidelines for the felony charge he faces a prison term of between three and four years.

Matika accepted the pleas but deferred sentencing, ordering the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Sentencing is scheduled for April 22 at 9 a.m.