By Zaz Hollander | Anchorage Daily News

PALMER, Alaska — The mother of Sarah Palin's future son-in-law pleaded not guilty to the drug charges against her today.

A Palmer grand jury on Friday indicted Sherry Johnston on six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance relating to possession and sale of the prescription painkiller OcyContin.

She admitted selling OxyContin pills to someone working with investigators, according to state troopers. They arrested her Dec. 18 at her Wasilla home, then released her on bail.

Johnston showed up alone for her first appearance in Palmer court this morning — no lawyer, no friends or family to support her.

Johnston asked for and received a public defender, a lawyer paid for by the state. She told Palmer Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler that she is in the midst of a divorce and living on medical disability payments and child support.

Johnston, 42, is the mother of Levi Johnston, the Wasilla teen who made headlines in September after Palin announced that her daughter Bristol Palin was pregnant and that he was the father. Palin said the two teenagers planned to marry. Their child was born late last month.

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