Wausau man sentenced for pointing gun at Michigan DNR officers | News, Sports, Jobs

JEFFREY PAUL

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Wausau, Wis., man will spend 48 months to 10 years in prison for fleeing law enforcement and then shooting a gun.

Jeffrey Lee Paul, 32, was sentenced May 7 in Dickinson County Circuit Court after pleading no contest to felony charges of firearm, discharge of firearm from vehicle, fleeing police officer third-degree vehicular assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and misdemeanor charges of operating license suspended, revoked or denied. As part of the plea agreement, the felony weapons charge was dropped.

On July 22, 2022, Paul was stopped by a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer in Breitung Township while operating an ORV with an expired registration. Paul first stopped the ORV and gave the conservation officer a false name. He then pointed a gun at the conservation officer as he fled. After losing control of the ORV and colliding with the conservation officer's vehicle, Paul shot himself in the head.

He was found fit to stand trial on August 28.

Paul's attorney, Daniel Jaspen, said the most important factor in this case was Paul's mental health issues and asked that Paul receive whatever mental health treatment the prison system can offer him.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kristin Kass said law enforcement officers have a dangerous job and it's dangerous because of people like Paul. Kass asked Circuit Court Judge Mary Barglind to include restitution as part of the sentencing.

In passing sentence, Barglind highlighted a crime that Paul had not been convicted of, but listed it in the presentence report that she considered for sentencing purposes. Barglind noted that Paul also had one felony conviction, 17 misdemeanor convictions and a long history of substance abuse and addiction.

“It is always difficult to weigh the need to punish, rehabilitate, protect society and deter others when one finds oneself in a situation that has contributed to the deterioration of an individual's mental health, combined with drug addiction. » Barglind said.

Barglind sentenced Paul to 48 months to 10 years for the firearms discharge charge. Paul was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for third-degree vehicle fleeing and assault with a dangerous weapon, as well as 93 days for suspended, revoked or denied operating license.

Additionally, Paul was also ordered to pay $2,580.03 in restitution.

Paul received 634 days credit for time served and all sentences will run concurrently.

Jim Paul can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 20.229, or [email protected].