After delays, trial starts next week for Holley man

Jeffrey Paul is charged with criminal possession of stolen property and insurance fraud

ALBION – The case against Jeffrey Paul will finally go to trial next week. Paul, 40, of Holley is charged with criminal possession of stolen property and insurance fraud.

He was supposed to go to trial in July. But Paul claimed a series of medications prevented him from thinking clearly, and unable to help with his defense during the trial. That prompted a delay in his trial.

In August, Orleans County Court Judge James Punch had Paul committed to a psychiatric facility in Syracuse for up to a year. The judge cited Paul’s “profound problems.” If Paul’s condition improved, he could stand trial, Punch said in August.

Paul’s condition did improve. He was released from the facility last month. He was in court in October and on Monday with his attorney Larry Koss for appearances before the judge.

However, Paul told the judge he switched attorneys as of Monday. Judge Punch told Paul the new attorney needs to be ready for Nov. 13 because that is when the trial is set to start.

“You’re obviously trying to delay these proceedings,” Punch told Paul in court on Monday. “You have for some time now.”

Paul and his father David allegedly stole two backhoes, a box truck and a car and buried some of it on David Paul’s property on the Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road. David Paul, 68, was sentenced to a year in the county jail in January.