PORT ANGELES — Prosecutors have filed more charges against Bernard “Pete” Barnes and others accused of taking part in an organized cocaine distribution network.
Barnes, Caron Ellen Hutt, and brothers Thomas Joe Paxton and Samuel Lee Paxton entered not guilty pleas Friday to their charges in Clallam County Superior Court.
Arraignment for Robert Eugene Adams was continued to 1 p.m. Wednesday to allow him time to speak with his attorney regarding a potential conflict.
Friday was the second time the five, who were all being held on bail, have appeared in court since being arrested Nov. 14 by officers of the multijurisdictional Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team in raids at homes in Port Angeles and Sequim.
Clallam County Undersheriff Fred DeFrang said the task force began an investigation 15 months ago into the activities of Barnes and others who allegedly participated in a cocaine distributing operation.
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The rest of the story appears in the Sunday Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition.