A Carbon County man was placed on probation Thursday in the county court on a drug count and theft cases.

Mason Anthony Mahoney, 19, of Albrightsville, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve a total of four years on probation on charges of criminal use of a communications device, retail theft, and criminal trespass.Mahoney previously pleaded guilty to the charges.Mahoney was arrested by state police at Hazleton vice unit on March 11, 2014, in the parking lot of the Burger King restaurant in Mahoning Township.A confidential informant set up a heroin buy with Mahoney by cellphone. The two agreed to meet in the restaurant's lot.The trespass charge stems from an Aug. 18, 2014, incident when he was charged with entering onto the property on Burnshaw Lane in Albrightsville.He and a female were found in a bedroom of the home by state police at Fern Ridge.In a plea agreement a burglary charge was dropped for the trespass plea.The retail theft occurred on Aug. 30, 2013, at the Rite Aid pharmacy along North First Street, in Lehighton. Borough police charged Mahoney with taking an item valued at $2.99.Mahoney admitted to a longtime heroin abuse problem and said he stole for money to support his habit.Defense attorney Matthew Rapa said Mahoney is a changed person from the one he first met over a year ago.Judge Joseph J. Matika, however, said Mahoney is drug free because he has been in prison. Matika said,"The question is what he does when he's on the outside."Mahoney told Matika, "Hoping and praying for a second chance at life."Mahoney was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendations for treatment, zero tolerance imposed for D&A use, and render a total of 200 hours of community service.He must also supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation, make total restitution of $1,826.52 for damages to the home that was entered, and have no contact with his victims.Mahoney is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison awaiting action on two parole violations filed by the probation office in that county.