A Genoa man used a U-Haul cargo truck to get to his arraignment in Cayuga County Court Monday after he could not find any other transportation due to his obesity.

Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Valdina said Stephen Turo, 56, of 1138 Maple St., pleaded not guilty to 17 felony drug charges from the U-Haul's storage container after it was backed up to the courthouse's loading dock.

“A court attendant held an umbrella over the stenographer because snow was getting blown into the loading dock and the (stenographer's) machine can't get wet,” Valdina said.

Last Thursday, Cayuga County Judge Thomas Leone told Turo's attorney, Douglas Bates, that he would not travel to Genoa to arraign Turo, but that he would be willing to meet Turo in the parking lot when he arrived at the courthouse.

After he was arraigned, Turo waived his right to appear at any further court proceedings unless he pleads guilty or goes to trial, Valdina said.

Turo and his wife, Claudette Turo, 54, are both accused of selling prescription medication from their home. Claudette Turo pleaded not guilty to her charges on Thursday.

Turo will have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to raise bail, which was set at $1,000 cash or $2,000 bond, or he will have to report to the Cayuga County Jail, Valdina said.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann previously said hundreds of Oxycontin, hydrocodone and morphine pills were seized when the Turos' home was raided. A scale, marijuana and more than $2,000 in cash was also seized in the raid, Budelmann said.

Turo is charged with fourth-degree conspiracy, criminal possession of marijuana in the third-degree, criminal possession of a narcotic drug in the fourth-degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third-degree, five counts of criminal possession of a narcotic drug in the third-degree, four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth-degree, two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third-degree, two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth-degree and five counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth-degree, all felonies. Turo is also charged with the two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia in the second-degree.