The man accused of trying to hire someone to kill another person pleaded not guilty Monday during his first court appearance.

Jesse Long, 38, of 114 Village Court Apt. 7, was arrested Friday morning, two days after he allegedly offered an undercover police detective $500 to kill a man he thought was seeing his girlfriend.

Monday afternoon, Clark District Judge Charles Hardin entered an automatic not-guilty plea and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 15. Long’s bond was $100,000 cash, which Hardin amended to allow him to be released after posting 10 percent.

Long is facing a single charge of solicitation for murder, which carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years upon conviction.

Winchester Police said the case evolved over a couple days last week. On Tuesday, Capt. James Hall said a person called the department and said Long asked if he knew anyone who would kill another person. Using the caller as a go-between, Hall said they set up a meeting on Wednesday with an undercover detective. According to the investigation, Long offered $500 and a weapon to the detective.

Hall said they warned the intended target and Long’s girlfriend following the meeting, and no one was harmed.