Former postal worker pleads not guilty to destroying, delaying mail

A former postal employee pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to destroying and delaying the delivery of mail.

Lance Kinder, 25, a former U.S. Postal Service worker from Oran, Mo., allegedly delayed the delivery of an excessive amount of mail between Aug. 1 and Dec. 5 in Scott County and throughout the Eastern District of Missouri.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lewis M. Blanton ordered any pretrial motions be filed to the court by Feb. 18.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas C. Mummert III will continue Kinder's case Feb. 24 and hear any motions filed by that time.

Kinder was released on a $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest in January.