BRIDGEWATER -- A borough pastor who was arrested after allegedly staging his own assault pleaded not guilty on Friday before Judge Kathy C. Qasim in Somerset County Superior Court.

Jairon Pena, 36, of Somerville, has also applied for the pre-trial intervention program. Those selected for the program can avoid jail time and have their criminal record expunged.

Authorities said Pena was found bound and gagged by police on Oct. 30 at 11:20 a.m. at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church on East Main Street. His description of the assault was full of inconsistencies and he had no visible injuries, according to police.

Police said Pena allegedly lied to officers and fabricated the assault because of undisclosed personal events in his life.

Pena, who was in court Friday after waiving his first appearance, was charged with third-degree false public alarm and fourth-degree false swearing and fictitious report to law enforcement, a disorderly persons offense.

Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hawkes and defense attorney George Goceljak told the judge that they have been discussing Pena's application to the pre-trial intervention program.

"I'm a bit on the fence," Hawkes the told judge.

Hawkes said if Pena is accepted into the pre-trial intervention program he would have to pay restitution to law enforcement for the time spent investigating his alleged assault.

Somerville police, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit, and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Newark and Franklin Township Field Offices had initially assisted in the investigation, authorities said.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.