DELHI _ Two men were arraigned in Delaware County Court on Monday on a grand jury indictment for alleged insurance fraud.
Timothy L. Robinson, 55, of Franklin, and Joel L. Griffin, 42, of Walton, were each charged with third-degree insurance fraud and first-degree falsifying business records.
Both men pleaded innocent to the charges and were released on their own recognizance to await trial in October.
Robinson and Griffin were arrested Nov. 9 for allegedly defrauding an insurance company, according to the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.
The two men were arrested after an investigation by deputies and the New York State Insurance Department Frauds Bureau.
Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said Robinson and Griffin were responsible for allegedly falsifying an insurance claim for work that was never done.
Northrup said Robinson allegedly paid Griffin $16,000 to remove debris from a house fire.
The men are charged with submitting fraudulent documents to the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company as part of a claim for payment, according to court records.
In other court business, a man who was scheduled to begin a jail sentence on a driving while intoxicated conviction failed to show up for sentencing.
Franklin Baez, 44, of Elmwood Park, N.J., pleaded guilty April 25 to two counts of DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, false impersonation, obstructing governmental administration, no seat belt, unlicensed operation and speeding.
Baez pleaded guilty in a plea agreement in which he would be sentenced to one year in jail, pay a fine and lose his driver's license.
Delaware County Judge Carl Becker said Baez sent the court a letter indicating that he wanted to withdraw his plea.
Baez's attorney, Christopher Wilson, said Baez did not have a ride to get to court for his 10:30 a.m. appearance and was taking a bus that left New Jersey at 1 p.m.
Becker said he did not accept Baez's excuse for being late and was issuing a warrant for his arrest.
"(Baez's) plea deal is in enormous jeopardy," Becker said.
The charges stemmed from an incident in Delhi on April 22, 2007.
In another case, Ronald W. Lord, 45, of Deposit, pleaded guilty to DWI in a plea agreement in which he will be sentenced to five years' probation with the first six months in jail.
Lord's sentencing is scheduled for June 16. His charges stem from an incident in Deposit on July 6.
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