By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 48-year-old Birmingham man who has been charged with allegedly trafficking methamphetamine in Alabaster has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge, according to Shelby County Circuit Court documents.

A Shelby County grand jury during its April term returned a three-count indictment against Jerry Michael Beavers, who lists an address on Smith Drive in Birmingham, upholding felony charges of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Beavers entered pleas of not guilty to the three charges during a June 26 hearing in front of Circuit Court Judge Lara Alvis. As of June 30, Beavers did not yet have a future court date listed.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Beavers on Aug. 20, 2016, and charged him with the three drug crimes. He was released from the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $506,000 the same day he was arrested.

Trafficking methamphetamine is a Class A felony, which is the highest level of non-capital offense in Alabama law, and is punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction. Unlawful possession of a controlled substance is a Class D felony, and is punishable by up to five years in prison upon conviction.

According to his arrest warrants, Beavers allegedly was found to be in possession of about 50 grams of methamphetamine while he was in the 500 block of U.S. 31 in Alabaster on Aug. 20.

To be charged with trafficking methamphetamine, a suspect must “knowingly have in actual or constructive possession” at least 28 grams of the controlled substance, according to state law.

When he was arrested, he also was allegedly found to be in possession of alprazolam and oxycodone, leading to his unlawful possession of a controlled substance charge.

His possession of drug paraphernalia charge came when he was allegedly found to be in possession of a “straw filled with narcotic residue, a glass pipe and scales” when he was arrested, according to his warrants.