LOS ANGELES  A New Age motivational speaker who led a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona last year in which three people perished appeared in an Arizona courtroom in handcuffs and waist chains on Thursday to face charges of three counts of manslaughter. His attorney said he would plead not guilty.

James A. Ray, 52, president of James Ray International, a multimillion-dollar company in Carlsbad, Calif., that promises followers a path to “harmonic wealth in all areas of your life,” was brought into Yavapai County Superior Court in Camp Verde wearing orange prison garb. He sat impassively as his attorney, Luis Li, told Judge Warren Darrow about the intended plea and asked the judge to reconsider the $5 million bail set for his client, which he has been unable to post.

Mr. Ray was indicted on Wednesday. A formal plea would be entered at his arraignment, which is expected later this month, according to Dennis W. McGrane, the chief deputy county attorney.

Camp Verde is less than 20 miles from the rustic retreat outside Sedona where the fatal sweat lodge ceremony was held on Oct. 8. The victims  Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn.  were overcome in a two-hour “spiritual warrior” ceremony, in which hot rocks were placed inside a tent so the 55 participants could sweat out whatever was ailing their souls. Twenty others suffered heat-related injuries.