Boston bombing suspects' sister faces drug charge

HACKENSACK, N.J. A sister of the two Boston Marathon bombing suspects is facing a drug charge in New Jersey.

Bella Tsarnaeva pleaded not guilty Tuesday to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

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Attorney Mario Blanch says Tsarnaeva was arrested in December when police responded to a domestic violence report at her Fairview, N.J., apartment.

Her boyfriend, Ahmad Khalil, faces the same charge and also pleaded not guilty.

Tsarnaeva has applied to a program that would enable her to avoid a criminal record.

Her brother Dzhokhar is charged with carrying out the April 15 Boston attack with older brother Tamerlan, who died in a police shootout.

Blanch tells The Associated Press that Tsarnaeva had no involvement with the Boston events but has received death threats and verbal abuse.