Ripley Police Chief Bert Conely is out on $5,000 bond today after pleading not guilty to each of seven counts alleging he possessed drugs to sell them.

Conely appeared Tuesday before Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander to enter his plea to the federal charges.

Although Conely is out on bond, he can't possess a firearm, must have no contact with government witnesses and must submit to supervision of the U.S. Probation Office, according to Alexander's order.

The indictment was made public Tuesday. It alleges that from May 17, 2006, until Nov. 21, 2006, Conely possessed marijuana and hydrocodone, a narcotic pain reliever with intent to distribute. The indictment quotes Conely as saying that the marijuana came from Mexico and was in a vault at the police department.

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