JOHNSTOWN - A Montgomery County man accused of assaulting and robbing 42-year-old Brian Morrison the night of July 6, 2010, before Morrison was stabbed to death pleaded not guilty today to felony charges.
Derrick R. Paul, 29, of Main Street, St. Johnsville, had been indicted by a grand jury late last month on five charges, including second- and third-degree robbery, second-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
At Paul's arraignment today, Fulton County Court Judge Polly Hoye set Paul's bail at $50,000 cash or insurance bond and sent him back to the county jail.
Article Photos
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan
Derrick Paul, center, is escorted by Fulton County correctional officers Doug Gifford, left, and Bert Simonds outside the Fulton County Courthouse in Johnstown before Paul's arraignment today.
Paul was represented in court by attorney Jeremiah Wood, who was appointed the public defender in the case. Attorney Chad Brown represented the district attorney's office at the arraignment.
The judge scheduled an Aug. 24 deadline for defense motions to be filed.
Authorities previously said Morrison was stabbed in the neck before midnight while starting to walk from Doc's Remedy, a Gloversville bar on Bleecker Street, to his home in Johnstown. Morrison was found unresponsive near a sidewalk and died, authorities said.
Earlier this month, District Attorney Louise Sira said the grand jury found Paul's alleged crimes against Morrison occurred before Morrison was stabbed.
The indictment alleges Paul punched Morrison in the jaw, rendering him unconscious, and stole his wallet on Bleecker Street the night of July 6, 2010. The indictment also alleges that on July 6 or 7, 2010, Paul hid the wallet, which Sira said had no money in it, and then destroyed it by burning it.
Sira said Paul at the time was living in an apartment on Bleecker Street.
More on this story will appear in Wednesday's print edition of The Leader-Herald.