Man accused of trying to swap baby for cocaine

CHICOPEE, Mass. (AP) - A not guilty plea has been entered for a man accused of offering to trade his 3-month-old daughter for crack cocaine.

Matthew Brace of Northampton was arraigned Tuesday in Chicopee District Court on a charge of reckless endangerment of a child.

Prosecutors say the 24-year-old Brace offered to give his daughter to a maintenance man at a gas station last month in exchange for "two 40s" - slang for crack cocaine, not 40-ounce bottles of beer as was previously reported.

Brace's attorney dismissed the charges as "totally trumped up allegations," saying prosecutors have no proof to support them.

A judge released Brace on $10,000 bail, ordering him to stay away from his daughter and remain drug and alcohol free.

The child is in state custody.

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Information from: The Springfield Republican, http://www.masslive.com/news/