By By Kerry Whipple-Bean
W.S. Neal High School special education teacher Larry Tindell pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of possession and distribution of a controlled substance.
Tindell, 48, of Ridge Road in Brewton, was indicted last month on charges he distributed the prescription painkiller Lortab to a 19-year-old man, according to court documents.
After a search of his property, Tindell was later charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. He was arraigned only on the drug charges Thursday.
Tindell has been held in the Escambia County jail on $420,000 bond since his arrest Feb. 10. A bond reduction hearing has been set for Monday. Tindell’s bond was set at $125,000 for the drug charges and $300,000 on the pornography charges.
Each charge could carry one to 10 years in prison if Tindell is convicted.
Thursday afternoon, the Escambia County School Board approved Tindell’s retirement, effective April 1.
In other court business Thursday, Flomaton High School football player Tony Ellis — who has been charged with enticing a minor for immoral purposes, sodomy and sexual abuse — sought youthful offender status in the case.
The arraignment for Ellis, who is 18, was delayed until a court decides whether he will be tried as an adult.