VIDALIA &045;&045; Clayton Police Chief Clarence Skipper pleaded not guilty to charges of malfeasance in office and public bribery at his arraignment in a Concordia Parish courtroom Wednesday.

The grand jury returned an indictment of Skipper on June 23.

Skipper, who was sworn in for another term on July 1, was arrested in March by Louisiana State Police on allegations that Skipper was taking money in lieu of issuing traffic citations and completing accident reports. Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell received the tip and turned the case over to state police because of a close working relationship with Skipper.

State police said an undercover investigation showed Skipper was taking money. Skipper denied all charges at a March press conference. Skipper said he was told March 15 to meet at the Concordia Parish Airport to go on a drug raid in Clayton. Skipper spokesman Justin Conner said Skipper was asked to buy drugs from a deputy as part of an investigation and that, when he refused, officials arrested him.

Skipper will continue to serve as police chief unless a guilty verdict is returned and all appeals are exhausted. He will remain in office throughout a trial.