NISKAYUNA, N.Y. — A 33-year-old Upstate New York man, who police say impregnated an 11-year-old, pleaded not guilty in town court Wednesday evening to predatory sexual assault against a child — the most serious sex crime charge under state law.

Robert Cronin was sent to the Schenectady County jail and is being held without bail.

Police said in a felony complaint that, between February or March of 2018, Cronin raped an 11-year-old girl in Niskayuna, Schenectady County, impregnating her.

News10 (WTEN), which first reported the story, said that the victim recently had the baby.

In a jailhouse interview Wednesday, Cronin sat down with News10′s Anya Tucker, during which he did not deny that the baby was his but did deny ever having sex with the girl.

He told Tucker that the girl became pregnant after using an article of clothing that Cronin had used to masturbate with.

"Do you understand why it would be hard for people to understand the reasoning behind this conception that you're offering?" Tucker asked Cronin during the interview.

"Yes," he responded.

Exclusive: Niskayuna man arrested on sex assault charge after 11-year-old girl delivers baby https://t.co/eN8PX2Phz6 — NEWS10 ABC (@WTEN) January 16, 2019

Cronin is due back in Niskayuna Town Court at 4 p.m. Friday for a preliminary hearing.

The girl and infant are believed to be in safe places and being well cared for, News10 reported.

Niskayuna Deputy Police Chief Michael Stevens told the Times Union that police and Schenectady County Child Protective Services officials were led to the case through a child abuse hotline call two months ago. They brought in District Attorney Robert Carney's office, which is prosecuting the case.

Stevens said he did not believe Cronin, who works with computers, had a record.

-- Sara Cline and Robert Gavin, Times Union, Albany, N.Y.