87-year-old: Forced at gunpoint to move cocaine

DETROIT - A federal judge has entered a not-guilty plea for an 87-year-old Indiana man who claims he was forced at gunpoint to transport 200 pounds of cocaine that were found in his pickup truck during a Michigan traffic stop.

Leo Sharp of Michigan City was stopped Oct. 21 for improper lane use and following too closely on Interstate 94 in Washtenaw County, according to the Detroit Free Press. After he refused to let officers search the vehicle, police brought out a police dog named Apollo. He sniffed out 104 bricks of cocaine, about 229 pounds worth of product.

Sharp is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He stood mute at his appearance in Detroit federal court, and Magistrate Steven Whalen entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. This was unlike his earlier Oct. 24 court date, where he was very vocal about the book he was writing. He also reiterated he was forced to traffic the cocaine at gunpoint.

87-year-old arrested in Mich. with $2.9 million worth of cocaine in pickup

According to Sharp, he only grows lilies on his 46-acre farm. He told the Associated Press outside the courtroom at the earlier date, "I love plants. It's a serious love - except the crap that makes you high. I'm innocent. You'll learn about it."

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.