A 45-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record who was extradited from Indiana last month to face sexual assault charges stemming from a 1988 incident pleaded not guilty Monday during his first appearance in the New London court where major crimes are tried.

William D. Smith, 45, was staying with relatives in Voluntown when he allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in August 1988. He was 19 at the time and listed his address in Georgia.

State police obtained an arrest warrant two months later, after the girl disclosed the incident to school officials, but were unable to find Smith to serve the warrant. When court officials located Smith recently in an Indiana prison, they confirmed that the alleged victim was still available to testify against Smith should the case go to trial, according to prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla. Smith is charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

In May, he was extradited from Indiana, where he had served a lengthy prison sentence for aggravated battery. Public records indicate Smith also had convictions in Georgia for theft and firearms offenses.

He is being held in lieu of $100,000 at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center and is due back in court on July 21. He will be represented by attorney M. Fred DeCaprio from the public defender’s office.