OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Former state trooper Christopher Gary Hughes pleaded not guilty to federal charges he violated a woman's civil rights by beating her in the Lee County Jail five years ago.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports (http://bit.ly/SyUiCP ) the 40-year-old Hughes, of Tupelo, appeared before Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander on Wednesday, who set his bond at $10,000.

Alexander set a trial date for Dec. 17 in Oxford before Chief Judge Michael P. Mills.

Hughes was charged with the civil rights violations on Oct. 12.

He is represented by attorneys Anthony Farese of Ashland and Jason Herring of Tupelo.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://djournal.com

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