Mifflinburg man pleads guilty to fatal accident while DUI

Feb. 20—LEWISBURG — A Mifflinburg man charged in a fatal accident in July pleaded guilty on Tuesday to causing the death of Spencer Charles.

On Tuesday in Union County Court, Benjamin Martin, 36, of Mifflinburg, pleaded guilty in front of Union County Judge Michael Piecuch to a felony count of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence (DUI) and a felony count of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI. Martin is charged in the death of Charles, 30, of Montgomery, following a head-on collision on Grand Valley Road in West Buffalo Township on July 1.

Martin faces a mandatory minimum of five years in state prison. The plea deal, if accepted by the judge calls for imprisonment of the mandatory minimum to a maximum of the court's discretion, 10 years of probation and dismissal of all other counts. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Martin was allegedly driving under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine when he caused the fatal accident, according to court documents. Charles was pronounced dead at the scene.

Martin allegedly exhibited signs of impairment, including dilated pupils, profuse sweating and bloodshot eyes, at the scene of the accident, according to police reports. Martin agreed to field sobriety tests and allegedly exhibited numerous indicators of impairment, police said.

Initially, Martin said he had not taken anything, but later admitted he injected a white powder between 8 and 9 p.m. June 30, according to court documents. He was placed under arrest and agreed to a blood draw, police said.

Authorities said the blood results showed that Martin had methamphetamine, amphetamine and caffeine in his system.

Martin, free on $35,000 cash bail, had no questions or comments during his plea hearing. He was represented by private defense attorney Robert Hoffa, of Williamsport.

The commonwealth was represented by District Attorney Brian Kerstetter.