Norwich businessman Zane Megos entered a not guilty plea in New London Superior Court Thursday to six counts of violation of probation. The charges allege he took a $2,925 deposit from a woman to rent an apartment that was condemned.

His case was continued to May 22 in New London Superior Court.

Megos, 57, of 31 Dellwood Road was charged by Norwich police April 21 with possession of narcotics and six counts of violation of probation. Norwich police said they found Megos to be in possession of the painkiller OxyContin when they went to serve him with the violation of probation warrants. He is scheduled to appear May 7 in Norwich Superior Court on the drug charge.

One year ago, Megos pleaded guilty to six fourth-degree larceny charges in a plea deal involving similar incidents of taking deposits for apartments that never became available. He received six one-year suspended sentences, three years of probation and was ordered to make full restitution to the victims.

In the violation of probation charges, Probation Officer Bethany Stone wrote in the warrant that a woman told Norwich police she made three payments in the fall of 2014 totaling $2,925 to Megos, who identified himself as his business partner, Bishop Taylor, in the transactions. The woman was told the apartment at 467-469 N. Main St., Norwich, would be available after a final inspection.

But city building officials in November told the woman no inspections had been scheduled for the apartment, which is owned by Taylor.

Building Department records show the apartment had been condemned on May 26, 2011, and that was still in effect when Megos allegedly took her deposit payments.

A letter lifting the condemnation following an inspection was issued by building code enforcement official James Troeger on Dec. 31, 2014.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday