FULTON, OSWEGO CO. -- A Fulton man is accused of falsely reporting to deputies he spotted a missing man who was later found dead.
46-year-old Brian Dolbear, of 2686 CR 57, is accused of telling deputies he saw and spoke to Ray Gregory on November 5 when he never did. That's the day Gregory went missing after getting into a car accident. The two men reportedly knew each other.
Gregory's body was found off Route 53 in Scriba on November 12. Preliminary autopsy results show he died from exposure.
Oswego County Sheriff Reuel Todd tells CNY Central he believes Dolbear was trying to give Gregory's family some hope. He doesn't think there was any malicious intent on Dolbear's part. Sheriff Todd says it is possible Gregory was still alive at the time of the alleged false report.
Dolbear is charged with falsely reporting an incident and making a false punishable written statement, both misdemeanors. If convicted, he faces a $1,000 fine and/or a year in jail.
He's scheduled to appear in the Town of Volney Court on December 5.
