KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News WeatherEx-CHP officer pleads not guilty to seeking murder
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Associated Press - July 30, 2010 6:34 PM ET
AUBURN, Calif. (AP) - A former California Highway Patrol officer has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he tried to pay $10,000 to have a police informant killed.
Ruben Salgado of Rocklin was arraigned Friday on the murder-solicitation charge and three drug charges in Placer County Superior Court.
Prosecutors say the 37-year-old Salgado tried to arrange the murder of an informant who sold him methamphetamine in May.
Salgado is being held without bail on the new charges after his July 14 arrest at a Sacramento hotel. Court papers say Salgado met the would-be hit man at a nearby restaurant to arrange the murder.
The 12-year CHP veteran left the department in June.
Salgado's attorney, Dan Nicholson, did not immediately return a telephone message on Friday.
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