Rams’ Henley Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges, Released on Bail

Ram cornerback Darryl Henley was released on $200,000 bail Friday after pleading not guilty to charges that he participated in a drug ring that shipped large amounts of cocaine to cities across the country.

Appearing in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Henley smiled broadly when Magistrate Judge Ronald Rose denied a bid by federal prosecutors to keep the football player in custody until his trial.

The judge barred Henley from traveling out of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties.

Earlier Friday, Henley surrendered to federal authorities in Santa Ana, who had sought a warrant for his arrest after a federal grand jury indicted him and former Ram cheerleader Tracy Donaho on charges of cocaine possession and conspiring to operate an illicit drug network that involved cross-country narcotics shipments.

Donaho will be arraigned next week, according to Asst. U.S. Atty. John Rayburn, who declined to comment on reports that the former cheerleader was cooperating with prosecutors.