Story highlights Three New York college students pleaded not guilty to assault charges after claiming to be targets of a racially motivated attack

A tentative trial date is scheduled for September

(CNN) Three New York college students pleaded not guilty Wednesday to claiming to be targets of a racially motivated attack when, prosecutors say, they actually had assaulted another bus passenger.

Ariel Agudio, Asha Burwell and Alexis Briggs, all 20, entered the pleas at an arraignment in Albany County Court on charges of third-degree assault and multiple counts of falsely reporting an incident, the Albany District Attorney's Office said.

They were released on their own recognizance.

A grand jury on Monday indicted the three women on the assault and false report charges.

Agudio and Burwell also pleaded not guilty to charges of harassment, while Agudio pleaded not guilty to three additional counts of attempted assault.

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