A Louisiana man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of using an underage girl to extort money from a Texas A&M University professor who jumped to his death from a campus building in January.
Authorities allege Daniel Timothy Duplaisir of Metairie, La., used the girl to lure James Arnt Aune into a sexually explicit online relationship and then contacted Aune acting as an outraged father to demand money.
Court records show text messages between the 37-year-old Duplaisir and the 59-year-old Aune indicate the threats to publicize the relationship contributed to the communication professor's decision to commit suicide.
Authorities allege Duplaisir used the same scheme against others.
A judge in Houston on Tuesday ordered Duplaisir to remain in jail without bond. His trial is scheduled for May 28.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.