A well-known Augusta criminal defense attorney was arrested Monday afternoon and is facing a felony drug charge.

George deVallon Bush, 41, of the 2400 block of Walton Way, was taken into custody at a Broad Street bar as the result of an ongoing investigation, Sheriff Ronnie Strength said Monday night.

He is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, according to jail records. Sheriff Strength said the arrest was part of a two-week investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Richmond County sheriff's narcotics agents.

"Mr. Bush was arrested without incident about 5 p.m. at Ballroom Billiards, 978 Broad Street, with a half-ounce of cocaine in his pocket," Sheriff Strength said.

"That's a little more than typically used for personal use," said Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Greg Meagher. He could not provide any more details about the ongoing case.

The sheriff said Mr. Bush's $10,000 bond was set, and the attorney was released from jail Monday evening.

According to the State Bar of Georgia Web site, an attorney convicted of a felony is considered in violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and could face a maximum penalty of disbarment.

Mr. Bush is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia. He opened his Fourth Street law practice in 1994.

In November 2000, Mr. Bush was featured in Mademoiselle magazine in a beef-cake style election spoof about the Republican presidential candidate who shares his name.