NORWICH – A convicted felon with more than 40 arrests on his record appeared in Chenango County Court Monday to answer for his alleged role in a fatal drug shootout.

James F. Bush, Burdick Medbury Road, Town of Norwich, pleaded not guilty to the 12 felonies and two misdemeanors a grand jury indicted him for last week.

Police arrested Bush in connection with an attempted robbery of a local drug dealer, which ultimately led to a gun battle and the death of his alleged co-conspirator, Joshua D. Richheimer of Pittsfield, on July 24.

The District Attorney’s Office asked that Bush be remanded on $100,000 bail and the defense argued that the amount be lowered.