Shane Sparks (Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES -- MTV reality star Shane Sparks pleaded not guilty Thursday to eight sex-related counts of child molestation.
Melvin Shane Sparks, 40, is charged with six counts of a lewd act on a child and two counts of oral copulation of a person under 16. He was arrested at his Studio City home on December 18 and was released the following day.
The criminal complaint alleged that the crimes occurred between July 1994 and April 1997.
Sparks entered his not guilty plea during a hearing in Van Nuys. He is due back in court on April 20 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence in the case for him to stand trial.
In December, an attorney for Sparks said his client has been unfairly accused of child molestation, noting that the allegations did not surface until after his Sparks became famous as a judge on "America's Best Dance Crew."
Attorney Steve Meister said the case "stinks to high heaven" because Sparks' accuser waited 15 years to come forward. He called the claims "extortion, Hollywood-style."
Meister says Sparks is innocent and "will fight to clear his name."
Sparks, who was also a choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance", is said to have been at least 10 years older than the victim.
Sparks shot to fame as a choreographer on the 2004 movie "You Got Served" before joining "So You Think You Can Dance."
His work on the Fox reality hit garnered him an Emmy nomination for outstanding choreography, after which he was tapped to be a judge on MTV's dance-themed competition, "America's Best Dance Crew," which just wrapped its fourth season.
Melvin Shane Sparks, 40, is charged with six counts of a lewd act on a child and two counts of oral copulation of a person under 16. He was arrested at his Studio City home on December 18 and was released the following day.
The criminal complaint alleged that the crimes occurred between July 1994 and April 1997.
Sparks entered his not guilty plea during a hearing in Van Nuys. He is due back in court on April 20 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence in the case for him to stand trial.
In December, an attorney for Sparks said his client has been unfairly accused of child molestation, noting that the allegations did not surface until after his Sparks became famous as a judge on "America's Best Dance Crew."
Attorney Steve Meister said the case "stinks to high heaven" because Sparks' accuser waited 15 years to come forward. He called the claims "extortion, Hollywood-style."
Meister says Sparks is innocent and "will fight to clear his name."
Sparks, who was also a choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance", is said to have been at least 10 years older than the victim.
Sparks shot to fame as a choreographer on the 2004 movie "You Got Served" before joining "So You Think You Can Dance."
His work on the Fox reality hit garnered him an Emmy nomination for outstanding choreography, after which he was tapped to be a judge on MTV's dance-themed competition, "America's Best Dance Crew," which just wrapped its fourth season.
