NEAL P. GOSWAMI

Staff Writer

BENNINGTON -- The first of four defendants arrested this week by Bennington Police for allegedly selling drugs pleaded not guilty to five felony charges on Tuesday.

Lloyd G. Wright Jr., 41, of Bennington, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division to four felony counts of selling narcotics and one felony conspiracy charge. He is being held at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland after failing to post $20,000 bail set by Judge David Howard.

Wright is being charged as a habitual offender because previous felony convictions for escaping furlough in 1998, 2004 and 2007, burglary in 1997 and grand larceny in 1991.

According to an affidavit filed by Bennington Police Officer Andy Hunt, a criminal informant working for the Bennington Police Department, met with Wright and another man, Bobby Joe Pratt, and purchased three Percocet pills from Wright on May 12 for $8 each. Pratt then left in a vehicle. Pratt returned, handed something to Wright, who then made and exchange with the informant. The pills were identified as Percocet, which has oxycodone as an active ingredient.

Hunt said a second purchase took place on June 7. This time the criminal informant purchased Suboxone. A third purchase took place on June 12. This time the informant purchased three Adderall pills from Wright's wife, Tammy Wright.

Hunt said a fourth sale also took place during which Vicodin was purchased. Hunt wrote in the affidavit that he lost visual contact of the sale because a large truck pulled in front of his view.

Wright is next scheduled to appear in court on July 11 for a weight of evidence hearing.

Wright's arrest was part of a round-up of several alleged drug dealers. Tammy Wright, 40, of Bennington, was arrested and charged with one count each of sale of stimulants, sale of narcotics, and conspiracy.

Shelley Lantz, 53, of Bennington, was charged with three counts of sale of narcotics. Pratt, 33, also of Bennington, was charged with sale of narcotics and conspiracy.