NORWICH – A Greene man avoided prison time after testing positive for methamphetamine and telling court officials he accidentally got some powder on his finger and licked it off.

Joshua R. Backus, 21, of Greene was originally arrested at 12:02 a.m. on April 6, after Backus allegedly pushed two subjects, and left the scene. The subjects made a complaint to police.

While conducting an investigation into the complaint, troopers located Backus driving and pulled him over along Town Barn Road in Oxford. Police reported seizing cocaine from inside the vehicle.

He eventually pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in County Court, and according to Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir Jr., Backus was sentenced to receive treatment court, but he failed to appear for scheduled drug tests and court appointments.