A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term Tuesday in the county court after admitting to assaulting a then 5-year-old boy.

Daniel Sterling Stahler, 31, of Lehighton, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve 18 to 48 months in a state correctional institution.Stahler was charged by Mahoning Township police following an incident on Aug. 28 at 130 Mauch Chunk St. Police responded to the residence to a report of a domestic incident. On scene officers were told that Stahler had assaulted the young boy.The police report stated Stahler struck the boy in the facial area and struck him with a door because he had "hugged a dog" too hard. The boy sustained injuries requiring medical attention.As Assistant District Attorney Michael S. Greek read the police account into the record, Stahler smiled when the ADA said he struck the young boy.Stahler told Serfass, "I'll think before I act the next time."Serfass told Stahler, "There is no excuse for this type of action toward a child."In addition to the jail term Serfass ordered Stahler to attend and complete anger management counseling, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, pay court costs of about $1,000, render 200 hours of community service when released on parole, and have no contact with the victim. He was given credit for 80 days already spent in jail on the charges.Stahler also pleaded to a harassment count, as a summary offense, and was fined $300.