COURTLAND—A Newsoms man pleaded not guilty to several drug-related charges during his arraignment in Southampton County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Kyle Lee Thorpe, 29, of the 34000 block of Monroe Street, Newsoms, had been arrested July 17 in connection with a May 28 seizure of 99 marijuana plants found in Newsoms. An illegal liquor still was also seized during the search.

Joel Hedgepeth, 28, also of the same address, was taken into custody at the same time. Among other things, Hedgepeth pleaded guilty in September to four counts of selling and distributing marijuana. He is scheduled for sentencing this Thursday, Jan. 16.

Thorpe is charged with two counts of selling and distributing marijuana, conspiring to selling and distributing marijuana, selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, and possessing a gun with over one pound of marijuana.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, and a trial on Thursday, April 10.