By RENEE FOX

Staff writer

LIBERTY — A former Liberty firefighter charged with assault after allegations he urinated in a captain’s tea kettle pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge in Girard Municipal Court.

Justin Graham, 40, Sampson Road, entered a written plea of not guilty prior to an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday, according to court records.

No bond was set in the case, and a pretrial has yet to be scheduled, according to court records.

A message left with Robert Shaker, Graham’s attorney, seeking comment was not returned immediately Tuesday afternoon.

Shaker filed paperwork waiving Graham’s right to a speedy trial on June 30.

Graham is the only former firefighter charged with a crime amid a drug investigation that started when a firefighter / paramedic died from an accidental drug overdose.

An investigation into the death revealed text messages between the man who died and his co-workers. Some of the messages discussed drug use and sales, and a conversation that appeared to indicate Graham urinated in a captain’s communal tea kettle, according to documents released by the township.

The investigation led to the resignation of Graham, ex-Lt. Joshua Cleland and the retirement and demotion of two others in the department.

Cleland is suing the criminal investigators, the Mahoning Valley Drug Task Force, asking for monetary damages and the return of property seized during searches of his home.

No hearings have been set in that case, which also was filed in Girard Municipal Court.