MODESTO, Calif. (AP) — A Central California defense attorney dropped his client in the middle of a murder trial, saying he’s incompetent to represent the man any further.

Attorney Steven O’Connor, 48, told a Stanislaus County judge on Tuesday to hold him in contempt of court and report him to state bar officials because he believes he failed his client and refused to proceed with the case, the Modesto Bee reported (http://bit.ly/1qHyLb1 ).