An Albert Lea man charged with second-degree methamphetamine possession pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Marlin Lee Risnes, 35, is also charged with felony meth possession.

Court documents state Risnes was charged after he was found with a book bag that had several items inside on Jan. 12, including what later field tested positive as 29.76 grams of meth in two baggies.

In a second incident, Risnes reportedly dropped several items as he fled an officer on Feb. 3, including a box with three baggies of meth totaling 46.6 grams.

District Court Judge Steven Schwab set conditional bail for Risnes on the two files at $20,000 on Thursday. Risnes was in custody as of Thursday afternoon.

Settlement conferences on the two files are scheduled for April 6, and jury trials are scheduled for June 27, if the cases are not settled by then.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.