A Sharon man pleaded not guilty regarding a gun and drugs allegedly found in his vehicle during a May traffic stop.

Free on $50,000 bond, Reginald A. McKethan, 33, appeared for a preliminary hearing Thursday with his attorney, William Theisen.

Theisen offered no argument related to the case and had no comment following the hearing, at which District Judge Kevin O'Donnell held all charges for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

Theisen is charged with four felonies, including prohibited gun possession, unlicensed carrying of a gun and two counts of drug possession with intent to sell.

McKethan also is charged with two misdemeanor counts of drug possession and one count of marijuana possession.

State Trooper Travis Buckshire testified that he pulled McKethan's vehicle over May 14 because it had a temporary registration that did not show the owner's information. He said there were no other traffic violations associated with the traffic stop.

While speaking with the driver, Buckshire said he smelled alcohol and marijuana. He said while checking McKethan's information, he found his license was suspended and McKethan later admitted to having a “roach” in the car.

Buckshire said McKethan was arrested and gave permission to search the vehicle.

“Right behind the center console, within arm's reach, there was a little blue bag,” he said. “Inside that bag was a revolver.”

Buckshire noted McKethan's criminal history shows a conviction for witness intimidation, which would prohibit his owning of a gun.

According to Buckshire, the drugs were then found during a search of McKethan's clothes. He said he found McKethan wearing two sets of pants, and between the two drugs were found in packages.

Buckshire said among the items confiscated were about 7 grams of suspected crack cocaine, about 2 grams of suspected cocaine, a bottle of suspected Xanax pills and a substance suspected of being MDMA. Those drugs have been sent to a lab for testing.

Buckshire said the charge of selling drugs came “based on how the wrapping was and the bulk of what was there.”

McKethan will next appear for a formal arraignment in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.