By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 35-year-old Anniston man is facing up to 20 years in prison after he was arrested and charged with allegedly distributing painkillers in two Shelby County cities.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Christopher Paul Cotney, who lists an address on Airport Road in Anniston, on May 18 and charged him with two felony counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Cotney’s arrest came after he allegedly distributed oxycodone twice in Shelby County on Nov. 1, 2016, according to Shelby County District Court records. One of Cotney’s charges stemmed from an alleged incident in the 600 block of Colonial Promenade Parkway in Alabaster and another stemmed from an incident in the 3000 block of Pelham Parkway on the same day.

Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance is a Class B felony, and carries with it a maximum of 20 years in prison upon conviction.

He was released from the Shelby County Jail the same day he was arrested after posting bonds totaling $20,000.

Cotney has several previous drug-related charges on his record, including an unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance charge in 2010 and multiple possession of a controlled substance charges from 2005 and 2002.

He is now set to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court on July 19 for a preliminary hearing in front of Circuit Court Judge Daniel Crowson.