COUPLE PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Former Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Steve Kubby, 52, and
his wife, Michele, 32, entered not-guilty pleas to drug charges Friday
in Placer County Superior Court.

A trial date of May 18 was set.

The Olympic Valley residents each were charged with cultivating
marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, two counts of conspiracy
to commit a crime, two counts of possession of a controlled substance,
possession of more than 28.5 grams of marijuana and possession of an
ingestion device. The first four are felonies.

Steve Kubby was also charged with unauthorized possession of a
hypodermic needle or syringe, a misdemeanor.

The couple say they were growing the 265 marijuana plants seized at
their home in a Jan. 19 raid for their own medical use and not for
sale.