An Irwin man was ordered Monday to serve up to 20 years in prison for stabbing a man following a bar fight.
Joshua James Robison, 26, pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated assault and one count each of possession of an instrument of crime and simple assault in connection with a Dec. 28, 2020, altercation with two brothers inside Brandy’s on Main in Irwin. Police said Robison stabbed one of the brothers in the neck outside the bar.
According to court records, police said Robison initially was asked by the bar’s management to leave but later returned. Daniel Kozak, then 31, claimed Robison sucker punched him in the bar and that his brother, David Kozak, 27, was stabbed by Robison after he followed him outside.
Robison told police he discarded the knife over a hillside. He was arrested at his home on Center Highway.
Robison’s guilty plea came as jury selection in his trial was set to begin Monday morning.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed one charge of attempted homicide.
Robison was sentenced by Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to serve eight to 20 years in prison and pay more than $26,000 in restitution to Kozak and his insurance companies.
