updated 1:12 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2007

WAUKEGAN, Ill. - Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor weapons charges Tuesday after a police raid on his home last month.

Johnson, dressed in a suit and tie, did not speak during the Lake County court hearing before Judge Theodore Potkonjak. Defense attorney Tom Briscoe entered the plea for him. His next court date in Lake County is set for Feb. 16.

Johnson was arrested Dec. 14 after police raided his Gurnee home. It was his third arrest in 18 months.

He faces 10 counts of possession of firearms without the required state gun-owner identification card; prosecutors say six weapons were in the home and the other counts relate to ammunition found there.

Less than 48 hours after his arrest, Johnson was at a Chicago bar when his friend and bodyguard, Willie B. Posey, was shot and killed. Posey also had been arrested on drug possession charges when police raided Johnson’s home.

The Bears suspended Johnson one game for being at the club.

Briscoe, speaking outside court, said Johnson is doing well under the circumstances and is trying to focus on his job with the Bears.

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“We’re confident we have a defense to this,” Briscoe said. “The facts will show he’s done nothing wrong.”

Lake County assistant state’s attorney Mary Stanton said prosecutors believe in the strength of the evidence.

“One of the loaded rifles was found in (Johnson’s) own bedroom,” she said.

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If found guilty on the Lake County gun charges, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail.

The judge granted a defense request to allow Johnson to travel freely outside the state, which contradicts the order of a Cook County judge.

Authorities in Cook County have alleged that Johnson’s arrest violated his earlier probation terms on a 2005 gun charge.

A Cook County judge has ordered Johnson to stay at home except to go to work, and ruled that he needs permission to leave Illinois. The next hearing in that probation-violation case is scheduled for Jan. 23.

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