An Albrightsville man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Tuesday to a lesser charge despite the objections of the victim.

Steven Sparrow, 47, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, while a more serious charge of aggravated assault by vehicle, a felony two, was dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney's office.Before accepting the plea, Judge Joseph J. Matika was informed by the victim, Louis Yelito, of Nesquehoning, that he objected to the plea agreement in which Sparrow was going to be asked to be placed in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest. Yelito's attorney, Albert Evans of Pottsville, said he believed the agreement was that Sparrow would serve a minimum of six months in prison and the IPP was not mentioned in negotiations.Sparrow was arrested after his box truck hit the rear of a vehicle driven by Yelito along Blakeslee Boulevard on May 5, 2015. Mahoning Township police filed the charges. A blood test revealed a 0.07 BAC and also the presence of controlled substances in Sparrow's system.Yelito sustained serious injuries to his right hand and has undergone multiple surgeries for the injury. Evans said Yelito may never get use of that hand back.Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo, who negotiated the agreement, said his office always considers the victim's position in such matters but said in this case he felt the plea agreement was appropriate. When asked by Matika if he was overriding the objections of the victim, Gazo said he was.Matika then told Sparrow he was not a party to any agreement and he would decide at the time of sentencing what type of sentence he will impose. He also told Yelito he had a right to submit a statement to the adult probation office, who he ordered to prepare a presentence investigation report, and also speak at Sparrow's sentencing proceeding.On Feb. 1, 2016, Evans filed a civil complaint against Sparrow on behalf of Yelito seeking damages for the injuries he sustained in the crash.