MONTICELLO — A Lawrence County Justice Court judge remainedbehind bars Saturday at the Lincoln County Jail after beingarrested Friday afternoon on drug charges.

Post One Justice Court Judge Bobby Fortenberry of New Hebron,was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent todistribute and conspiracy to distribute Friday. Fortenberry, 46, isa 16-year veteran of the bench who won re-election to another termin November.

Friday’s arrest was the culmination of an investigation overseveral years by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department,Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Pearl River Basin Narcotics TaskForce, Mississippi Highway Patrol Criminal Investigative Bureau,14th District District Attorney’s Office and the state AttorneyGeneral’s Office.

“We’ve had an ongoing investigation on him going back at leastfour years,” said Lawrence County Sheriff Joel Thames.

Mike Aldridge, a captain in the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics,confirmed his agency had also been investigating the judge.

“We really stepped it up in the last year or so, but we’ve beeninvestigating him for several years,” Aldridge said. “Some peopleare harder to catch than others. Being a judge, he had extensiveknowledge of law enforcement methods and techniques. That knowledgemade it extremely difficult to get evidence on him.”

Agents with the MBN and MHP CIB, led by MBN Agent Billy RayWarner, made the arrest around 4 p.m. Friday at the BrookhavenTruck Stop on Union St. Fortenberry was arrested in possession ofapproximately 2.5 grams of methamphetamine.

“The arrest took place in the gravel parking lot,” Aldridgesaid. “The truck stop was not involved.”

Aldridge declined to give details on how the arrest wasmade.

If convicted, Fortenberry faces a maximum sentence of 30 yearsin prison and a $1 million fine on the possession charge and 20years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the conspiracy charge.

Thames said members of the public alerted him that the judge wasallegedly selling drugs. Citizens continued to provide informationand lodged complaints for the past several years.

“There’s been years of public complaints about him alleging druginvolvement,” Thames said.

Aldridge said more arrests may be forthcoming.

“The possibility of further arrests exists in relation to thiscase,” he said. “We appreciate the support and confidence SheriffThames gave the Bureau of Narcotics in letting us have free rein inthis investigation. We also appreciate the Lincoln County Sheriff’sOffice and the assistance they gave us.”

Circuit Judge Mike Smith set a $1 million cash bond Fridayevening.