FARMINGTON — Dwight Stanley of Jay pleaded not guilty Friday to sexually assaulting a girl under age 16 between Oct. 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015, and threatening to murder her and/or a family member.

Stanley, 52, pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to two felony counts of gross sexual assault and one felony count of unlawful sexual contact. He also pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor charge each of unlawful sexual assault and terrorizing.

The maximum punishment for each sexual assault charge is 30 years and a $50,000 fine.

The Jay Police Department received a complaint in August 2015 and Detective Michael Mejia launched an investigation. The girl was interviewed by the Children’s Advocacy Center, according to Mejia.

A Franklin County grand jury indicted Stanley on the charges in January.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net