SAN DIEGO : Not Guilty Plea by Retired Lawman

A former Sheriff’s Department sergeant who is accused of running a house of prostitution out of his wife’s acupressure clinic pleaded not guilty to four charges Monday during his first court appearance.

Dennis Arthur Hartman, who had served 23 years on the force when he retired earlier this year, was indicted last week by the county grand jury on one felony count of pimping, two felony counts of pandering and one misdemeanor count of operating a house of ill-fame from the beginning of 1991 until Jan. 24.

During a short hearing, Superior Court Judge Frederic Link ordered Hartman to return to court on Oct. 22, at which time a trial date will be set. He remains free on his own recognizance.

Very few details about the alleged prostitution ring have come to light, but Link on Monday ordered that all search warrants and related affidavits be unsealed.