JEFFREY PAUL
IRON MOUNTAIN – A Wausau, Wisconsin, man will spend 48 months to 10 years in prison for fleeing police and then firing a rifle.
Jeffrey Lee Paul, 32, was sentenced May 7 in Dickinson County Circuit Court after pleading no contest to felony weapons charges, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, police officer, fleeing vehicle in the third degree, assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor charge of operating license suspended, revoked or denied. As part of the plea deal, he dropped the felony weapons charge.
On July 22, 2022, Paul was stopped by a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer in Breitung Township while driving an all-terrain vehicle with expired registration. Initially, Paul stopped the ORV and provided the conservation officer with a false name. He then pointed a rifle 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 declared competent to stand trial on August 28.
Paul’s attorney, Daniel Jaspen, stated that the most important factor in the case was Paul’s mental health problems and asked that he be provided with any mental health treatment that the prison system can provide.
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 sentence.
In handing down his sentence, Barglind noted an offense for which Paul was not convicted, but noted in the presentation report that he did consider it for sentencing purposes. Barglind noted that Paul also had one prior felony conviction, 17 misdemeanor convictions and a long history of psychiatric and substance abuse.
Barglind sentenced Paul to 48 months to 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. Paul also received 12-month sentences for police officer charges, third-degree fleeing a vehicle and assault with a dangerous weapon, and 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 at the same time.
Jim Paul can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.
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