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Mars man sentenced in DUI case

Judge says he can go to Florida

A Mars man charged in an accident that left a 26-year-old woman injured on the side of Three Degree Road was sentenced Thursday.

Joshua Black, 30, of Clarks Lane pleaded guilty to drunken driving and reckless endangerment.

Butler County Judge Timothy McCune sentenced Black to serve between 2 days and 6 months in the Butler County Prison followed by 2 years' probation.

However, the judge granted Black credit for four days he spent in jail awaiting court.

Court records say the charges stem from an incident July 1 when Black and friends Charles "CJ" Cotto and Brandy Griffith were traveling home from a party in Cranberry Township.

When the trio came to the intersection of Downieville and Mars Valencia roads, the cap flew off Black's truck and landed on the road.

Griffith and Cotto got out of the truck to retrieve the cap. When Black backed up, the open passenger door struck Griffith.

Black and Cotto put the injured Griffith in the truck to take her to a friend's house.

However, when Griffith started to have a seizure in the truck on the way, the group changed plans and decided to go to a hospital.

During the process of turning around, the truck got stuck on a large rock, according to court records.

Black flagged down a passing motorist and asked the driver to call 911, according to court records.

Black's defense attorney, Kerry Starr on Thursday asked the judge to allow her client to serve his probation in Florida.

Starr said Black, originally from Florida, wishes to return there to help his mother care for his father, who is struggling with cancer.

The judge agreed to the request as long as it is approved by officials in Florida.

The judge also decided that during Black's probationary period, the defendant must pay $600 in fines, attend a victim impact panel and log in 60 hours of community service.

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