Ohio officer pleads not guilty to enticing girls

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio school resource officer has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of trying to have sex with a high school student.

Columbus police officer Todd L. Smith has been charged with two counts of trying to coerce a minor to make a sexually explicit video to send to him.

A third count charges him with trying to entice another minor to have sex with him.

The 49-year-old Smith pleaded not guilty today to all three charges and remains in custody.

Smith had been assigned as a resource officer to Centennial High School where both girls were students.

Defense attorney Sam Shamansky says Smith entered a not guilty plea for a reason and looks forward to analyzing and resolving the case as quickly as possible.