An Elmwood Township man accused of defrauding the owners of a Suttons Bay condominium out of about $95,000 pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday.

George D. Newpower, 58, of 13766 S. W. Bay Shore Dr., Traverse City, pleaded not guilty to making false sworn statements as a contractor over $20,000 and habitual offender, second offense in 86th District Court. He waived his preliminary hearing and was bound over to 13th Circuit Court, where a pretrial meeting was held Monday afternoon. No new court date has been set for Newpower and his bond was continued.

According to court documents, Newpower allegedly took about $95,000 from a couple who hired him to do work on a condominium they own in Suttons Bay. He allegedly collected the money from the couple, but never completed the work. Newpower also allegedly filed false sworn statements with the condo owners and a county title company, claiming he had paid bills to at least three area supply stores so he could be reimbursed.

Newpower was convicted in August 1997 in 13th Circuit Court in Antrim County of embezzling over $1 million from business partners and others in Mancelona. He served seven years of a 10-year prison term and as of Tuesday still owed over $1 million in restitution, fine and costs from the 1997 case.