A former eastern Kentucky police chief pleaded guilty on March 7 to drug trafficking in exchange for a year in jail.

James W. Cooper, 57, of White Plains, Md., must also forfeit cash seized during his arrest.

Cooper was the police chief in Evarts, as well as an officer with several agencies, during the 1990s.

Harlan County Sheriff's deputies arrested Cooper in August 2005 during a traffic stop.

Police said Cooper had Oxycontin pills and a "substantial" amount of cash on him when he was arrested.

Special Judge Cletus Maricle accepted the plea, but told Cooper that he wasn't bound to sentence him to two years probation during a hearing scheduled for April 4.

Cooper was allowed to remain out of jail on bond until sentencing.