PITTSBURGH — An attorney and former O'Hara Township councilman has pleaded guilty to setting fire to his family home, critically injuring his bedridden daughter.

A judge will sentence 56-year-old Samuel Pontier on Jan. 31 after Pontier pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated assault, arson and other charges. In exchange, prosecutors dropped an attempted homicide charge.

Pontier's attorney says Pontier was suffering from manic depression and abusing prescription drugs and alcohol when he set the Dec. 29 fire. He has since sought psychiatric treatment.

Authorities say Pontier's 17-year-old daughter, Kristin, has cerebral palsy, and suffered smoke inhalation and burns to her esophagus.

Police say Pontier told investigators he started the fire because he was frustrated his estranged wife kept an untidy house.

PITTSBURGH — A city councilwoman pleaded no contest to ethics and theft charges and resigned Tuesday for accepting $43,000 in kickbacks from friends she had described as consultants.Prosecutors allege Carlisle helped friends get paid for consulting work that was either not completed or useless. In turn, they kicked back most of the money to her.She spent money on trips to San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas and Aruba and bought a $4,500 fur coat, televisions, a laptop computer and jewelry.She is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 4.