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The future mother-in-law of Bristol Palin pleaded not guilty today to felony drug charges for allegedly selling the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Sherry Johnston – the 42-year-old mother of Levi Johnston – was arrested December 18 on six felony drug charges. She was released on $5,000 bail.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, she arrived in court today without a lawyer, friends or supporters. A trial date has been set for the end of March.

The case against Sherry Johnston began in September – during the heart of the McCain-Palin presidential campaign – when investigators intercepted a package containing 179 pills of OxyContin, often referred to as “hillbilly heroin.”

Two suspects were arrested but then agreed to serve as informants and made undercover purchases from Johnston in exchange for a lighter sentencing.

According to police, Sherry Johnston was dealing OxyContin – which she referred to as “coffee” in text messages – in October and November. [Photo Credit: Splash News]

On October 1, Levi Johnston’s mother allegedly sent the following to a buyer, among with other text messages: “I wish I could but there’s only so many times I can go for coffee a month. The rest of the time I need to have it at home!”

Don’t we all. After making two transactions, a third purchase took place on November 26. The informant was wired and this time police videotaped the meeting.

Sherry’s not guilty plea comes a week after Levi and Bristol welcomed a boy, Tripp Easton Michael Johnston, in Palmer, Alaska. The two are set to wed this summer.