An Athens County 9-1-1 dispatcher was arraigned on charges Thursday after he was found intoxicated with a firearm.

Dispatcher Warren Ferguson, 45, appeared before Athens County Municipal Court Judge William Grim on one count of using a weapon while intoxicated.

Ferguson was arrested Wednesday at the Albany Fairgrounds. Ferguson drove his truck into the fairgrounds and parked it against the fence. Athens County Sheriff Deputy Jim Childs found Ferguson in his car smelling of alcohol and slurring his speech. Childs asked him to exit the vehicle, according to court documents.

Childs asked Ferguson if there were any weapons in his truck. Ferguson said there was one under his armrest. Childs found a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber gun with two extra magazines loaded inside a black case, according to the complaint.

Ferguson could spend a maximum of 180 days in jail and pay a maximum fine of $1,000 if convicted, according to the Ohio Revised Code.

Ferguson pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 1 at 8 a.m.