SMETHPORT – A Port Allegany man was sentenced Friday in McKean
County Court to spend time in state prison for more than 25 charges
including injuring his infant son by dropping him down a set of
stairs.

Darian Dunsing, 29, was sentenced to three to six years in state
prison, given credit for 283 days of time served, sentenced to five
years of consecutive probation and deemed eligible for boot camp if
the Department of Corrections considers him an appropriate
candidate.

Assistant District Attorney Christa Schott had asked Judge John
Yoder not to grant eligibility for boot camp because of Dunsing’s
long list of charges in these cases – theft, receiving stolen
property, driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest,
endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering
another person, as well as multiple other traffic offenses.

“This is his second go-around with stealing cars and leading
police officers on a high-speed chase,” Schott said, adding that
Dunsing has shown a “complete disregard for the property of
others.”

She also referred to his irresponsible actions in caring for two
young children while he was under the influence of alcohol. His
infant son was dropped down a flight of steps and Dunsing did not
seek medical attention for him.

Dunsing’s attorney, Public Defender Ron Langella, said that the
boot camp program is in place to help people just like his
client.

The program was created to “take an otherwise troubled person
and give them a full-fledged opportunity for rehabilitation,” he
said. “He fits the profile of what the boot camp program is
intended to do.”

Yoder agreed with Langella, saying, “With regards to boot camp,
I don’t see that as a reward.”

He added that he had allowed Dunsing to visit with his child –
while in the company of a prison guard and of a Children and Youth
Services worker – so Dunsing could think about his child while he
was in prison.

“I hope you realize what life is about,” Yoder said to Dunsing.
“It’s not about stealing cars, it’s not about drugs, it’s not about
the alcohol you consume until you black out. It’s about that child
you brought into this world.”

Schott described that the charges against Dunsing began in April
2005 while he was drinking in a Port Allegany bar. When he left, he
stole a car from the parking lot and drove almost to Smethport
before he was involved in an accident. He then left the scene, lied
to bystanders about his involvement in the accident, walked to
Shunk’s Auto Sales and stole another car, which he drove through
Farmer’s Valley to the Larabee Junction with the police following
him at high speeds.

When a state police car got in front of him to try to force him
to stop, Dunsing used his vehicle to bump the patrol car before
passing it. The chase came to an end when police forced the car off
the road and into the ditch.

A physical altercation ensued when police attempted to take
Dunsing into custody.

On April 24, 2005, Dunsing stole a van along Route 646; and was
in possession of another vehicle belonging to someone else, Schott
said.