HAMILTON — A West Chester Township man who was eliminated this week as the Tristate's serial rape suspect pleaded not guilty Thursday to a sex-related offense involving an 8-year-old girl and to four other criminal charges. Michael Lagow, 35, is charged with gross sexual imposition, three counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

        At Mr. Lagow's arraignment Thursday, Judge Keith Spaeth of Butler County Common Pleas Court continued his bond at $70,000. He is being held at the Butler County Jail.

        Mr. Lagow is accused of breaking into a house on Sept. 19 and inappropriately touching an 8-year-old girl.

        Mr. Lagow had been considered a suspect in a series of rapes, but the DNA from a sample of Mr. Lagow's saliva did not match DNA samples collected at rape scenes in Mason, Montgomery and Colerain Township.

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