PORTLAND (AP) — The father of a toddler whose disappearance generated national attention pleaded not guilty to an unrelated assault charge after arriving late for court on Thursday.
Justin DiPietro, 26, was initially absent from court, leading to the threat of an arrest warrant. Reporters had left by the time he arrived later to enter his plea.
DiPietro was arrested July 6 for allegedly assaulting a former girlfriend in Portland, but was out on bail.
The disappearance of DiPietro’s daughter, Ayla Reynolds, remains unsolved. He reported her missing Dec. 17, 2011, from his mother’s home in Waterville.
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