CLAYTON, La. &045;&045;Clayton Police Chief Clarence &uot;PaPa&uot; Skipper, along with the local and district NAACP representatives, declared his innocence Monday of felony charges of malfeasance in office and public bribery.

&uot;I would like to categorically deny all the charges against me and I will prove I’m innocent,&uot; Skipper told a crowd gathered outside the Clayton Town Hall at midday.

Skipper said he will prove his innocence in court. He thanked all of his supporters who re-elected him March 9, many of whom were at the gathering.

Skipper was arrested last Monday on charges of malfeasance in office and public bribery on a warrant issued from the state police.

Sheriff Randy Maxwell said he received information Skipper was taking money in lieu of issuing traffic citations and completing accident reports. Maxwell said he gave the case to the state police to handle because of Maxwell and Skipper’s working relationship.

The state police say they discovered Skipper took money in lieu of filing accident reports and traffic citations after an undercover investigation of the chief, according to Sgt. Howard McKee with the Louisiana State Police Pubic Affairs.

Skipper said he was told March 15 to meet at the Concordia Parish Airport to go on a drug raid in Clayton. After he arrived, he learned that was not the case.

Instead, Justin Conner, on behalf of Skipper, claimed Monday, he was asked to buy drugs from a sheriff’s deputy as part of an investigation. When Skipper refused, Conner said, officials told him he was being charged with the two counts for which he was arrested.

Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell, who was not at the press conference, issued a statement saying, &uot;Some people will do anything to cover up the predicament they find themselves in and divert attention elsewhere.

&uot;They’ll say or do anything to justify their own actions or accuse another organization of wrongdoing. But, Chief Skipper will have his day in court. The truth in this matter will come out in court.&uot;

The NAACP is actively involved in Skipper’s case, even bringing in the FBI on the issue, according to parish chapter president Conner.

Conner called the incident an &uot;improper interrogation,&uot; because officials took Skipper to the airport and kept him for hours to question him.

&uot;This has never taken place in the parish before,&uot; Conner said.

Conner said the local chapter on Tuesday notified the district, represented at the press conference by the Rev. Joe Buckner

Conner said the purpose of the NAACP’s involvement is to uncover &uot;corruption among law enforcement.&uot;

Skipper signed a promise to appear in court for arraignment April 28; however, the next grand jury meets April 5.

The district attorney’s office has not yet received Skipper’s case.

If found guilty, Skipper would be suspended from his duties, and, after all appeals processes were finished, would be put out of office, according to the secretary of state’s office.

An election would have to be held to replace him if he was removed from office. Skipper is currently serving his previous term. The term he was elected for two weeks ago begins July 1.

Skipper faces a maximum penalty of five years and/or a $5,000 fine for malfeasance in office and five years and/or a $1,000 fine for public bribery.