Judge’s final act at County Court: setting bail at $1 million
ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge James Punch held his final court session today before his retirement after nearly 27 years on the bench.
The judge saw three defendants with Jerry Gray, 44, the last person on the court calendar.
He appeared before Punch on a bail application hearing.
Gray, who listed East Oak Orchard Street in Medina as his address, has been charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree, burglary in the second degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
He allegedly broke into a house in Medina and stole items.
Gray has five prior felonies, five failures to appear in court and has had his probation and parole revoked.
“He could be looking at life in prison as a persistent felon,” Punch said in court.
The judge set bail at $500,000 cash and $1 million bond.
He also sentenced a Medina teen-ager to four years in prison today for second-degree assault and gave a conditional discharge to a man who violated an order of protection by sending a text message.
The judge told that man to be careful and not respond to the victim, especially if he’s angry.
“If you do it again you’ll probably end up in jail,” Punch said.
