GONZALES - Sorrento Councilman Randy Anny pleaded not guilty to theft and forgery charges in court on Thursday.

Anny and Baton Rouge attorney Roy Maughan Jr. are accused of misappropriating more than $77,000 of town money in 2013. Maughan pleaded not guilty as well.

Anny was serving as mayor pro tem at the time while the then mayor was on medical leave. He came under scrutiny after signing a check for work in the town that was never completed.

Anny's home was the subject of a federal raid with agents descending on the property in February 2015 and leaving with a high-dollar fishing boat in tow.