Alleged Killer Cop Pleads Not Guilty

A former deputy accused of shooting a man to death in a bar pleaded not guilty today.

Dayle William Long, 42, appeared before a judge at the in a red jail uniform with his ankles shackled and his hands chained to his waist with his attorney today to make his plea.

He was accused of killing Sam Vanettes, 36, a grad at .

To read what eye witnesses told Patch about the shooting, .

The former deputy will likely face 50 years to life if convicted, according to John Hall of the District Attorney's Office.

Though the office was unable to comment on whether a plea deal is in the works, "it's rather unusual for a plea negotiation to come in on a murder case," Hall said.

"At this point, it's looking very much like this will go… to trial," he said outside the courtroom today.

Long is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 3, according to court records.

Vanettes was trying to break up a fight between Long and another person, though Vanettes' relationship to those people is unknown, Hall said. "He was with these people or near these people," he said.

Vanettes' family mourned the loss of a son, brother and friend days after the killing. To read what his loved ones said about him,.