New Peabody drug charges for Malden man

SALEM – A Malden man who was busted for drug distribution in Peabody after being out on bail for trafficking over $12,000 worth of OxyContin in Beverly last summer is now being held on $5,000 cash bail.David Miles Ledbury, 37, of 378 Lebanon St., Malden, pleaded not guilty Monday at his arraignment in Salem Superior Court to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute Opana before Judge Robert A. Cornetta.As jointly agreed by prosecutors and the defense attorney, the judge set the bail amount with the option the defense may seek a bail review at another court date.In the meantime, Ledbury remains held at the Middleton Jail in lieu of bail.The newest charge stems from his arrest on the afternoon of May 3 when Peabody Police Detective David Murphy along with other officers, observed what they believed to be a drug transaction inside the Northshore Mall parking lot in Peabody.They stopped a gray colored Honda for a motor vehicle infraction. Ledbury was a passenger inside the vehicle and as police were approaching, they observed him reach down.Police said they found 31 Opana tablets in the back seat, a grader and $1,141 in cash on his person.Opana is morphine-like opium, and is twice as potent as OxyContin.At the time of his arrest, Ledbury was out on bail after being arrested Aug. 6, 2010 in the area of the Beverly Depot in Beverly for drug trafficking.Both cases were continued until Sept. 8 for a possible plea on both matters.