BALTIMORE, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon pleaded not guilty to theft charges, courtroom observers said.

Appearing Monday on the first day of her trial in Baltimore's Courthouse East, Dixon's lawyers entered a "not guilty" plea to charges she misappropriated city-issued retail gift certificates meant for the needy, allegedly using them to purchase items for friends and family, The Baltimore Sun reported.


The newspaper said much of the trial's first day was taken up by jury selection, during which Dixon frequently conferred with defense lawyers and prosecutors at the bench and interviewed potential jurors.

The Sun reported that Dixon spoke only briefly, saying "Yes, Your Honor" when Judge Dennis Sweeney asked her to acknowledge that she had the right to accompany her lawyers during bench conferences.

Observers said Dixon appeared businesslike during the proceedings and did not appear to use her BlackBerry as she does routinely during City Hall meetings. The Sun said the mayor occasionally wrote in a notebook or whispered to lead defense attorney Arnold Weiner.