Florida Supreme Court rejects disabled man's drug appeal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court refused to hear a wheelchair-bound man's appeal of a drug trafficking conviction for obtaining large amounts of prescription drugs he said were to control severe pain.

Richard Paey, now serving a 25-year minimum mandatory prison sentence, had previously said an appellate court misapplied the state's drug trafficking law when it upheld his conviction in December even though there was no evidence he ever sold or distributed the painkillers.

A ruling by the state Supreme Court yesterday said the court will not hear the case.

The Pasco County man has said he was not part of any trafficking scheme and possessed the drugs strictly for medical use.