ROME, Ga. (AP) - A former northwest Georgia judge who prosecutors say framed a woman for possessing methamphetamine after she accused him of making sexual advances has pleaded not guilty.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (https://bit.ly/QPxAI1) that Bryant Cochran entered the plea Thursday during a brief court appearance. He then issued a statement outside the federal courthouse in Rome, saying that he has not sexually harassed anyone or planted any drugs.
The six-count indictment was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in north Georgia. The charges against Cochran include conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, witness tampering and civil rights violations.
The alleged crimes stem from his time as chief magistrate judge in Murray County. He resigned from that post in August 2012, soon after the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission opened an ethics investigation.
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, https://www.ajc.com
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