Holley man will face trial for fraud, criminal possession of stolen property

ALBION – Jeffrey Paul, 40, of Holley was supposed to face a trial last week for charges of criminal possession of stolen property and insurance fraud, both in the third degree.

But Paul claimed a series of medications prevented him from thinking clearly, and unable to help with his defense during the trial.

County Court Judge James Punch told Paul today that a trial will be scheduled and Paul won’t be able to claim “fuzzy thinking” to avoid a jury.

In an appearance before Punch today, Paul listed several medications he is taking, including prescriptions for stomach pain, heart medication, a steroid and a lung treatment as well as others.

Punch asked Paul if the medicine was making him unable to concentrate. Paul said the medication sometimes causes concentration problems as a side effect.

But the judge said there was no reason to put off the trial.

“Let me tell you something,” he told Paul, “you don’t have to be at the top of your game to assist in your own defense.”

Punch said the trial will begin at 9 a.m. on Aug. 21.

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.