NATCHEZ — A Natchez man accused of two counts of child fondling in Adams County pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charges along with a possession of a stolen firearm allegation.

Judge Forrest “Al” Johnson also ordered the bond for Michael A. Bumgarner, 40, 28 Alexander Road, be increased from $20,000 to $200,000. In addition, Johnson ordered Bumgarner, who is a truck driver, not to leave the jurisdiction.

Bumgarner’s first charge stems from incidents alleged to have happened in July 2015 and February 2016 and the second charge allegedly occurred in December 2015. Both children involved were under 16 years of age at the time, Johnson said.

Bumgarner also faces three charges in Vidalia that allegedly happened in 2004, 2005 and 2009 in which one victim came forward in 2016 and a police investigation identified two other victims. The charges are sexual battery and two counts of third-degree rape. The youngest of the Louisiana victims was 9 years old at the time of the alleged crime.

Bumgarner has not been indicted or arraigned for the three Louisiana charges.

Defense Attorney Philip LeTard said he has evidence he plans to submit in the coming days about one of the Adams County charges, which LeTard said involves a relative of Bumgarner’s.

LeTard said a man was arrested recently for molesting the child and says Bumgarner was not the man who molested her.

LeTard said none of the other girls are connected to Bumgarner in any way.

Concerning the firearm, LeTard said he has a text message from the person Bumgarner bought the rifle from saying it was not stolen.

Assistant District Attorney Tim Cotton said given the severity of the crimes, he thought $20,000 was an insufficient bond.  Cotton said the grand jury returned two indictments on a very serious matter, and Cotton said he was also concerned about the previous similar charges in Louisiana, even given the time delay.

Johnson said he was concerned about Bumgarner being allowed to leave the state as part of the property bond he had made.

LeTard said as a condition of the bond in Louisiana, Bumgarner has been required to report in with his office every day, where a ledger exists of where he is in case he is needed at a certain time. LeTard said Bumgarner has made every hearing on either side of the bridge that LeTard has informed him to be at.

Bumgarner did miss a court date on May 25 in Vidalia and a warrant was issued for his arrest, but Seventh Judicial District Judge John Reeves later recalled the warrant when he learned LeTard did not communicate to Bumgarner that he was supposed to be in court. LeTard had been scheduled to miss that date in court due to a medical issue.

Johnson said while he understood a person is to be presumed innocent, he also has a duty to consider the potential danger to the community.

A jury trial was set for 9 a.m. Aug. 29.