Libertyville teen pleads not guilty to drug charges

A Libertyville teen pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he had marijuana and unauthorized prescription medicine in his car.

Patrick Gaines, 18, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance. He would also be eligible for probation.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Rod Drobinski said Gaines, of the 1000 block of Tamarack Lane, was driving a 1994 Toyota Corolla near the intersection of Route 45 and Division Street in Mundelein around 2 p.m. on July 4.

A police officer stopped Gaines' car because he was not wearing a seat belt, Drobinski said, and noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the car as he spoke to Gaines.

A search of the car revealed a little more than an ounce of marijuana in three plastic bags, a scale and assorted drug paraphernalia, Drobinski said.

The officer also found 10 tablets of an anti-seizure drug for which Gaines admitted he did not have a doctor's prescription.

Drobinski said officials have filed to seize Gaines' car as a result of the arrest.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride scheduled a trial of the case for Dec. 12 and ordered Gaines to appear in court Nov. 22.