After appearing in court on Tuesday morning, defendant John O’Neill, who is being charged with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint, which allegedly occurred on Oct. 31 in Middletown, pled not guilty to both charges. O’Neill’s attorney Eugene J. Riccio confirmed the not guilty pleas and said that his client had elected to have a trial by jury.

Lieutenant Heather Desmond of the Middletown Police Department confirmed that O’Neill’s alleged crimes took place at 184 High St., the location of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.

According to case documents, the Middletown Superior Court received a Request for Discovery and Production from Riccio. In the discovery phase, each party obtains evidence from the opposing party.

O’Neill will return to court on April 5 for a pre-trial hearing with the presiding Judge Susan Handy at the Middletown Superior Court.