Rochester officer pleads innocent to misconduct
A Rochester patrol officer accused of misconduct has formally pleaded not guilty in a case in which she was accused of tipping off drug dealers.
The Rochester Post-Bulletin reports that 32-year-old Vanessa Mason made a brief appearance in Olmsted County District Court on Thursday and entered her plea.
Mason was put on administrative leave last April when she was charged with three felonies and two gross misdemeanors. She was also accused of taking money to act as a drug courier.
Since then, two of the felonies have been dismissed. Mason has always denied the allegations behind the misdemeanors, but only now got to enter a formal plea.
No trial date has been set, but lawyers say it will probably be at the end of the year.
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Information from: Post-Bulletin (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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