Lawyer says Garrett Reid will plead not guilty in prison-drugs case

The defense attorney for Garrett Reid said yesterday that he will drop off arraignment paperwork at the courthouse today in the case involving accusations that Andy Reid's eldest son smuggled drugs into prison.

Timothy Woodward said Garrett Reid would waive arraignment and enter a not-guilty plea.

"I have no comment on any other aspect of the case," the attorney said.

Earlier this week, Woodward met behind closed doors with prosecutors and Montgomery County Court Judge Steven T. O'Neill to discuss a parole plan for Reid. The judge said no decision will be made until a hearing is scheduled.

Reid, 24, is nearing the earliest date for parole from the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on charges from a January traffic accident. He pleaded guilty Nov. 1 in that case, and O'Neill sentenced him to two to 23 months in jail, leaving open the possibility that Reid be paroled into a drug-treatment court that O'Neill oversees.

But before he can be released, Reid has to resolve the drug-smuggling charges from October, including posting $50,000 bail. He has not done so.

If found guilty in the smuggling case, Reid could face a minimum-mandatory two-year jail term, jeopardizing his chances for the drug-treatment court.

Reid's brother, Britt, 22, recently failed to reach a plea agreement on charges of driving under the influence and other traffic offenses. Those charges stemmed from an August arrest while he was out on bail for a January road-rage incident to which he pleaded guilty.