LONE JACK FORMER POLICE CHIEF PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO COCAINE CHARGE

A former Lone Jack police chief surrendered Monday on a charge of possessing
a controlled substance -- cocaine -- in Clay County.

William Abney, 39, is pleading not guilty, said his attorney, John O'Connor.

If convicted of the Class C felony, Abney faces a maximum penalty of up to
seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine. His bond was set at $10,000.

In court documents, Kansas City police said that on June 25 they found Abney
lying on the floor having seizures in the master bedroom of his Northland
home. About 11 grams of powder found nearby tested positive as cocaine.

The document said family members reported that Abney earlier in the day was
in a confused and paranoid condition, running from window to window, stating
that people were after him and fearing for his safety. He also told his
family that he had been sniffing cocaine, police said in the document.

Within hours, the Lone Jack Board of Aldermen learned that the FBI had begun
investigating whether the drug was taken from the property room of the city
Police Department. The board immediately fired Abney, who is a former Kansas
City police officer.

No charges relating to the property room have been filed. Abney has been
replaced as chief by Larry Dickstein, a retired Kansas City police officer
who lives near Lone Jack.