RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A church choir director pleaded not guilty today in West Valley Superior Court to charges that he committed lewd sexual acts with a 15-year-old choirgirl.
Mark William Michaels, 53, was arrested at about 9 a.m. Sunday after a Montclair police officer saw him allegedly committing lewd acts with the girl in a parked car in an alley behind the 10200 block of Central Avenue.
Prosecutors charged Michaels on Tuesday with four felonies -- one with respect to Sunday's alleged acts, and three others for alleged sexual contact that occurred between Jan. 1 and June 4, according to the complaint in Michaels' court file.
Michaels and the girl both participated in the choir at Bethany Baptist Church, 9950 Monte Vista Ave. in Montclair, police said.
Michaels, of Upland, remained jailed today in lieu of $250,000 bail at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. His bail was raised from $50,000 after criminal charges were filed.
He is next due in court Monday for a hearing in which his attorney is expected to ask a judge to lower Michaels' bail or order him released in exchange for a promise to appear in court.
Michaels' attorney, Antonio Bestard, did not return a call seeking comment.