PLATTSBURGH -- A Plattsburgh man accused of stalking two young girls has once again pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case against Nicholas Belvedere was recently transferred to Clinton County Court where the 27-year-old waived having it presented to a grand jury.

He appeared before Judge Patrick McGill for the first time Thursday when his attorney, David Gervais, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

Belvedere is accused of trying to lure two 12-year-old girls into his car as they walked to and from school.

The brief afternoon appearance ended with Belvedere being taken back to the Clinton County Jail, where he has been held since his early May arrest, unable to post $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond, which McGill continued Thursday.

Belvedere, who has been arrested in the past for engaging in public displays of lewd behavior, has repeatedly denied the stalking allegations and said he never offered the girls a ride.

He is facing two felony charges of second-degree stalking, two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree making a false sworn statement.

The local father will return to County Court Sept. 19 to face the charges.

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com