Friend of Alleged Charleston Shooter Charged With Lying to Feds

A friend of Dylann Roof, the man accused in the fatal shooting of nine people at an African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, this summer, has been charged with lying to federal authorities and concealing information during the investigation.

Roof's friend Joey Meek told an FBI agent that he didn't know specifics about Roof's plan to shoot churchgoers, but the FBI said that was a lie, according to a federal indictment accusing him of misprision of a felony and making false statements.

Meek, 21, pleaded not guilty today before a federal magistrate in Columbia, South Carolina. The magistrate set bond at $100,000. It was unclear if Meek will make bond.

Meek appeared in an orange prison jumpsuit and with shackled hands and feet. He appeared to be emotional, wiping his eyes and looking back at his family and girlfriend.

The misprision count carries up to three years in prison and the false statement charge carries up to five years in prison, the Department of Justice said today.

Meek, a childhood friend of Roof, also 21, told ABC News earlier this summer that he last saw his friend the day before the shooting.

Meek recalled how Roof spoke about how he wanted racial segregation reinstated.

"He didn't agree with some things and somebody had to do something about it," Meek said of Roof.

"He said that he thought that blacks in general as a race was bringing down the white race," Meek said.

In August, Meek received a letter that he was the target of an investigation, according to the Associated Press. He was arrested on Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson said Meek refused to be interviewed even after the letter was sent. Meek's attorney denied this, saying Meek did not refuse and did not know what the letter meant.

The judge said there was a "lack of opportunity" for prosecutors to interview Meek.

Meek's next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Defense attorney Deborah Butcher could not be immediately reached for comment by ABC News.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.