Lynn man pleads not guilty to drug charges

SALEM – A Lynn man now facing new drug charges was surrendered on a probation violation after he pleaded not guilty in Salem Superior Court Wednesday.Emery Sanders, Jr., 55, of 228 Washington St., pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and illegal possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in connection with his arrest this past summer.It was shortly before 8:30 p.m., on Aug. 10 when police, under the direction of Lynn Police Detective Paul Holey, raided Sanders? home on Washington Street.During a “pat frisk” of Sanders, police confiscated 10 twists of cocaine from his person. Additional cocaine was also found inside in his shoe, a total of over 20 grams, as well as 13 packages of marijuana and $1,100 in cash.Also found in the home was a scale, police scanner, plastic bags and other drug- related items.Judge David A. Lowy set bail on the case at $20,000 cash and continued the matter to Dec. 3 for a pretrial conference.Assistant District Attorney Greg A. Friedholm is prosecuting the case for the commonwealth.At the time of the new arrest, Sanders was on probation for a 1999 heroin distribution case in which he had received seven to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of probation.Probation officer Steven Buxby moved to have Sanders probation term revoked and sent back to jail based on his new arrest and the judge agreed, sentencing Sanders to serve three years in state prison.In the meantime, he still faces another minimum mandatory punishment of three years in state prison if convicted on the new drug trafficking charge.