Ortiz Pleads Not Guilty, Held on 500,000 Cash Bail

(NECN: Kathryn Sotnik, Fall River, Mass.) - Aaron Hernandez associate Carlos Ortiz plead "not guilty" on Friday to a charge of accessory- after the fact- to the murder of Odin Lloyd, 27.

In court, Ortiz wore an untucked shirt and tie.

His bail was set at $500,000 cash.

In the courtroom, Lloyd's family sat on one side. Ortiz's mother, sister, and girlfriend sat on the other side.

Prosecutors have said Ortiz was with former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez and another associate, Ernest Wallace, the night Lloyd was shot back in June.

His body was found in an industrial park less than a mile from Hernandez's North Attleboro house.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the case.

Ortiz previously pleaded not guilty to a firearms charge in Attleboro District Court.

He was indicted by a Bristol County grand jury on the accessory charge several weeks ago.

"He's depressed and confused and he's charged with a major crime," said his defense attorney John Connors.

When Connors was asked if his client, who's also from Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Conn., will testify against Hernandez in the trial, Connors said, "at this point he's not making any statements. I can't say what will happen in the future."

Ortiz will be back in court on November, 20. That's when Connors could argue for bail.

Earlier this week, Hernandez's girlfriend, Shayanna Jenkins, plead not guilty to a perjury charge.

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