Charles C. Lewis, 42, pleaded not guilty on Friday, April 29, 2016, to drug possession charges.
WARREN -- A township man indicted for allegedly possessing 10 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of heroin worth approximately $1.2 million pleaded not guilty Friday in Somerset County Superior Court.
Charles Lewis (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)Charles C. Lewis, 42, was indicted in January on first-degree possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense. Police allegedly recovered $291,147 in cash when he was arrested.
Assistant prosecutor Michael McLaughlin offered Lewis a plea deal of 13 years in state prison with 54 months served without parole eligibility. First-degree crimes carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Judge Bruce A. Jones set June 17 as the next court date. McLaughlin said the drugs are being tested at the state lab.
N.J. man had 107 pounds of marijuana
On Dec. 18, 2015, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, Warren Township police and Bound Brook police allegedly discovered the drugs while executing a search warrant on Lewis' residences as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, authorities previously said.
Authorities said the 10 kilograms of cocaine seized has an approximate street value of $1 million and the two kilograms of heroin have a street value of roughly $200,000.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.