Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputy John Mitchell Tomlinson plead not guilty at an arraignment hearing Tuesday, April 20.

Tomlinson, a lieutenant with the sheriff's office, is currently on non-paid administrative leave while awaiting his trial in a Walton County jail.

Tomlinson was arrested March 9 and charged with 120 counts of sexual battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 18, a first-degree felony.

Two days later, upon further investigating, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement charged Tomlinson with five counts of sexual battery on a child under 12, a capital felony.

On Tuesday, he entered a not guilty plea to three counts of sexual battery on a child less than 12 and three counts of sexual battery by a custodial authority.

A motion to reduce the $450,000 bond was denied. The initial amount of $1.3 million was reduced because 117 charges of sexual battery by a custodial authority were dropped by the state.

Tomlinson's case was heard by Circuit Court Judge Kelvin Wells.

Tomlinson is due back in court for a docket hearing July 8 and later for his trial July 12.