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Man charged in fatal Cranberry Township crash additionally accused of theft

A Beaver County man facing charges related to a three-vehicle crash that killed a Cranberry Township man Sunday had felony theft charges filed against him Monday, Dec. 5.

Darren M. Martin, 34, of Monaca, and Jonie L. Potts, 50, of Freedom, were charged with felonies conspiracy and two counts of theft by Cranberry Township police following an incident Nov. 28.

Martin was recently arrested after a crash at the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road, where Bertram Forsyth, 46, was pronounced dead, according to township police.

He is in Butler County Prison in lieu of a $500,000 bond from the Dec. 4 crash charges, which include homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, DUI, recklessly endangering another person, and traffic citations including failing to stop at a red light and reckless driving.

He was additionally placed under a $100,000 bond for the charges filed Monday.

Potts has not yet been placed under bond, and a preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.

According to charging documents, Potts was seen via surveillance video at 7:05 p.m. Nov. 28 driving a Toyota Camry into the parking lot of Home Depot. Martin was later identified as the passenger.

Police said Potts entered the store and selected $1,363 worth of merchandise and placed it in a cart. The items included three spools of stranded green 50-foot wire and a Christmas tree.

Potts left the cart in the paint section of the store and left the store. Martin then exited the vehicle, entered the store and pushed the cart past all points of sale, according to police.

Potts was seen leaving the parking lot in her vehicle at 7:20 p.m., police said.

Martin’s preliminary hearings regarding the theft charges and the Dec. 4 crash charges are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 9, before District Judge Kevin Flaherty in Cranberry Township.

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