May 9, 2001 – Wayne Chinnery, former drug policy adviser to the governor, entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday to charges of federal civil rights and firearm violations.
His trial is expected to begin sometime in June, according to Magistrate Judge Geoffrey Barnard, who presided over Wednesday's arraignment proceeding in U.S. District Court on St. Thomas.
Chinnery, indicted by a federal grand jury on April 25, could face up to 10 years in prison and/or fines of up to $280,000.
He is accused of:
– Violating the civil rights of a St. Thomas resident while he was the director of the territory's Narcotics Strike Force, a federal offense carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
– Using a firearm during a violent crime in committing the civil rights violation, a federal offense that carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison.
– Third-degree assault, a territorial offense, which carries a maximum five-year sentence or a fine of $500 to $3,000, or both.
There is at least one other charge pending against Chinnery, an attorney and former television talk-show host who was named by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull to head the Law-Enforcement Planning commission. Last July, Chinnery was charged in Territorial Court with assault against the mother of one of his children. He has entered a plea of not guilty in that case.
