Poland pleads not guilty to federal charges

South Lake Tahoe police Officer Johnny Poland pleaded not guilty Thursday to four counts of witness and evidence tampering.

Johnny Poland

The 44-year-old was arraigned Feb. 14. He was arrested on the federal charges in January, with an indictment being handed down earlier this month.

At the hearing in Sacramento, Poland asked for a jury trial.

“The government asked for modifications to the terms of his release because there are several firearms unaccounted for and there are rumors that he has had contact with a witness,” Lauren Horwood with the Department of Justice told Lake Tahoe News. “The magistrate judge felt there was not enough evidence to modify conditions and admonished Poland to account for his guns.”

Poland’s next scheduled court date is at the end of March. For now he is out on bail. He is on unpaid leave from the police department.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report