NORWICH – A man facing some of New York’s highest drug charges appeared in court in early December with the support of family and friends, asking the judge for reasonable bail.

Christopher S. Purdy, 40, of 28 Fair St. Apt. 201, Norwich, was arrested Nov. 20 after the Norwich City Police Department allegedly discovered more than $25,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the framework of the car he was driving.

On Dec. 2, Purdy was indicted for first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-1 felony by a Chenango County grand jury. He was also indicted for second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-II felony.

Class A felonies are the highest felony level crimes in the state and carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Since his arrest, Purdy has remained incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility because the Norwich City Court, which had prior jurisdiction, lacked the legal power to grant him bail over the high level charges. Norwich City Court Judge James Downey said that according to state law, local courts are prohibited from setting bail in Class A felony cases.

Appearing in Chenango County Court for the first time on Dec. 11 before County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan, Purdy’s lawyer, family and friends pleaded for a fair bail to be set.

“This defendant made a business out of selling cocaine in our community. Looking at 10 to 20 years in prison, he has every reason to want to flee,” said District Attorney Joseph McBride.

McBride asked the court to set bail at $100,000 and Sullivan approved the request, remanding Purdy back to the county jail.

Purdy’s private attorney, Thomas J. Valerino of Syracuse, told the court his client had no rap sheet, no bench warrant history, was cooperative with police during the investigation and had a clean criminal record, apart from a previous driving while intoxicated charge.