A New Castle man was sentenced Thursday to spend up to 28 months in prison for shooting at two boys in a car at a busy Cranberry Township intersection about a year ago.

The incident, according to court records, occurred following a botched marijuana sale Dec. 16.

The boys, who are not identified in police records, told police they’d arranged to buy 14 grams of marijuana from a man they knew only as “Alex,” in the parking lot of a restaurant on Freedom Road around 8:30 p.m.

The boys got the drugs from the man — who investigators later identified as 20-year-old Alexander W. Anderson — but paid him with fake cash, one real bill wrapped around some phony money.

The boys drove away from the deal quickly in a Pontiac G6, according to court records.

Anderson’s vehicle reportedly followed the boys’ car. And, near the intersection of Route 228 and Kristoffer Drive, near Cranberry Commons Shopping Plaza, the defendant fired a gun at the boys’ car at least three times. Court records say the rear passenger’s side of the boys car was damaged and a slug was found in the trunk.

Court records say after the shots were fired, the boys called Anderson on his cellular telephone. During that call, Anderson reportedly said, “I want my money,” according to court records.

Although court records don’t say the monetary value of the botched deal, officials Thursday said that amount of marijuana would run about $350.

After calling Anderson, the boys who then had one flat tire due to the incident, called police.

Court records say investigators traced the incident back to Anderson by using his cellular telephone records.

Court records do not say what type of weapon was used in the incident, but Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon, who prosecuted the case, afterward said, “it was a handgun that was deigned to fire like a rifle.” The weapon was recovered.

Anderson in court pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to deliver and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Butler County Judge William Shaffer sentenced the defendant to serve 14 to 29 months in prison, followed by 3 years’ probation.

Anderson’s lawyer, Bradley Olson of New Castle, said his client was remorseful and that this action is “out of character” for the man, who has no prior criminal record. Since his arrest, the defendant has been working for a construction company in Butler that promised to hold a spot for him until he is paroled.