SUNBURY — A 20-year-old city man was sentenced to state prison for aggravated assault stemming from a January stabbing.

Joseph T. Rice pleaded guilty to second-degree felony aggravated assault before Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage and was sentenced to a 20-month to 40-month state prison sentence.

He has been in custody at the county jail since January 14, when he was arrested for being among five men accused of assaulting Daniel Price, of Sunbury, during a drug deal the day before in the 500 block of Race Street.

According to Price, he met with the men to sell them marijuana and Rice pulled a knife and stabbed him in the arm as Price tried to defend himself.

District Attorney Anthony Rosini commended Sunbury police detectives Christopher Blase and Travis Bremigen and Assistant District Attorney Melissa Norton.

“Since the victim was also involved in illegal activities, this was not an easy case to investigate or prosecute,” he said.