A former deputy coroner in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties has admitted to soliciting sex online from an agent with the state Attorney General’s office who was posing as a 14-year-old boy.

Edward C. Smith, 60, of Tamaqua, is still facing more severe charges for sexually assaulting a teenager over a period of months starting in 2015.

On Friday, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts—unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility. In exchange, prosecutors with the AG’s Child Predator Section agreed to drop two other felony counts.

Smith is facing at least 48 months imprisonment after the guilty plea. His sentencing has been set for April 4.

In the case where Smith pleaded guilty, he exchanged online messages with an undercover agent who posed as a 14 year-old boy. On Sept. 20, Smith reportedly asked to arrange a meeting, and instructed the undercover agent do erase the messages they exchanged.

Smith then traveled to Luzerne County, where agents from the Child Predator Section arrested him. He was jailed on $250,000 bail, and is still incarcerated at Luzerne County Prison.

At the time of Smith’s arrest, Attorney General Josh Shapiro praised the CPS for getting a predator off of the streets.

“We have zero tolerance for the sexual abuse of children in Pennsylvania. Whoever the perpetrator may be – including a public official – we will investigate and charge these predators wherever we find them,” Shapiro was quoted as saying.

Both cases have been prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Angela Raver.

The Luzerne County case was initially delayed because he said he could not afford an attorney. He was eventually deemed qualified for a public defender.

In 2015, Smith won $300,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket he purchased in Tamaqua, according to an article published at the time.

He was fired from both of his deputy coroner positions after being charged in Luzerne County.

Smith also faces several charges—including unlawful contact, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault— for sexually abusing a teenager on multiple occasions in 2015. Those charges were filed in Schuylkill County Court in December.

Smith allegedly paid a boy for sexual acts and nude photos, paying him under the guise that he was doing legitimate work. The alleged victim was 14-15 years old during the incidents.

A preliminary hearing in that case was set for last month before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer in Tamaqua, but has now been continued to Jan. 16.