Carlsbad

Carlsbad High School basketball coach John Nelson pleaded not guilty Thursday to two felony sex charges involving a female student. Following the arraignment in Vista Municipal Court, he was booked at County Jail in Vista and then released on his own recognizance .

Presiding Judge Suzanne Knauf ordered Nelson, who has been placed on administrative leave by the school, to stay off the campus.

Nelson’s attorney, Richard Muir, said he had already advised the coach to no longer attend his team’s basketball games--even as a spectator--because of tensions on campus surrounding the charges, which surfaced in early January.

Nelson is accused by the San Diego County district attorney’s office of a misdemeanor count of child molestation for allegedly fondling the girl in October, and two felony counts--one of oral copulation and one of rape by finger--following an alleged encounter with the girl two days later.

Authorities were alerted to the allegations by the girl’s father.

A conviction on either of the felony charges carries a maximum sentence of three years in state prison.

Nelson’s next court hearing will be Feb. 21.