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A Grand Island man pleaded guilty Monday to hitting and killing an elderly woman as she picked berries in her yard.
Carmel R. Martinez II, 24, of 2215 Maplewood Place, was charged with motor vehicle homicide in the death of 83-year-old Marceline Forst. He pleaded not guilty in September, but entered a guilty plea to the charge on Monday.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped references to Martinez's two prior convictions of driving under the influence, and reduced the charge from a Class 2 felony to a Class 3 felony. Class 2 felonies carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison, while Class 3 felonies have a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Forst was killed June 17, when she was hit by a pickup that crashed into her yard. Martinez, the driver, told police that he had blacked out. Inside the truck, officers found a can of Dust Off, whose compressed air can be inhaled to get high.
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