New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of cocaine possession and waived his arraignment scheduled for Wednesday, according to a New Hampshire Supreme Court spokesperson.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Belknap County Superior Court in Laconia, N.H.
Chung, 32, was indicted earlier this month after police allegedly found cocaine at his home near Lake Winnipesaukee on June 25.
The Class B felony charge carries a potential prison term of 3 1/2 to seven years.
The Patriots issued the following statement last week: “We are aware of the reports regarding Patrick Chung. We will not be commenting while his judicial proceedings take place.”
Chung was not with the team for Thursday’s preseason victory against the Carolina Panthers, but NESN reported that he returned to the practice field Sunday.
A second-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2009, Chung has spent nine of his 10 NFL seasons in New England, with his tenure broken by one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. The three-time Super Bowl champion has 11 interceptions and 723 tackles in 140 career games (110 starts).