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Former Auburn star Porter pleads innocent to drug charges

Brian Witte Associated Press

Bismarck, ND Jan 9, 2002-- Former Auburn basketball star Chris Porter pleaded innocent Wednesday to drug possession charges.

Porter, who played briefly in the NBA and recently signed with the CBA's Dakota Wizards, was arrested Aug. 24 in Dothan, Ala., after being stopped for speeding.

Police said they found a gram of cocaine in Porter's pocket. An officer also found a handgun and a small amount of marijuana under the driver's seat, police said.

Terry Bullard, Porter's lawyer, said he expected the case to go to trial sometime this summer. Porter entered the plea through his lawyer and did not travel to Alabama.

He would face two to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The case will not hamper Porter's ability to play basketball this season for the Bismarck-based team, Bullard said.

Porter, the Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1999, was a second-round pick by Golden State last year. The 6-foot-7 forward started 35 games last season, averaging 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Porter was waived by the Charlotte Hornets after being traded by Golden State.

He was suspended during his senior year at Auburn for accepting $2,500 from a sports agent. Porter's is from Abbeville, Ala., about 25 miles north of Dothan.