Ramona

A Ramona man pleaded innocent Thursday to 98 felony charges of molesting two girls, but a prosecutor said more charges possibly involving other victims are expected to be filed next week.

Ezra John Adams, 42, was ordered held in County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

The heavy-equipment operator was arrested Tuesday in Ramona after the girls’ mother reported the alleged abuse to sheriff’s deputies.

A bail review hearing will be held Nov. 22 by San Diego Municipal Judge Nicholas Kasimatis. Deputy Dist. Atty. Aaron Katz asked Kasimatis to set bail at $1 million, but the judge declined. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 2.

“All we know is that there are potentially other victims,” Katz said after Adams’ arraignment. He said the number of counts could rise to 150.

Asked about law enforcement officers’ description of the allegations as the largest child-molestation case in the county’s history, the prosecutor said, “Right now, we don’t know how widespread it is. I can’t comment on the evidence right now.”

Kasimatis said many of the charges involve allegations of force, so it is unlikely that Adams would placed on probation if convicted.

Adams’ temporary attorney, Pat Dunah, said his client has no prior record, strong ties to the community and has been a county resident for 23 years.