Former Capitol Hill resident and Pike/Pine regular Matt Hickey was in a King County courtroom Tuesday morning after extradition from Las Vegas to face accusations he raped incapacitated victims he allegedly lured with promises of work in the porn industry.

The 40-year-old appeared with his court appointed lawyer who argued unsuccessfully for Hickey’s bail to be lowered as he entered the initial “not guilty” pleas on behalf of his client.

Hickey remains in the King County Jail, held on $200,000 bail.

The sometimes journalist and photographer is charged with three counts of second degree rape. Prosecutors allege the crimes were part of a string of sexual assaults in which women said they went with Hickey “under false pretenses or stated Hickey had sex with them when they were too intoxicated to give consent.”

Hickey was arrested in Las Vegas in October where the Stranger reports he had continued his online search for women to photograph.

King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector also approved protection orders prohibiting Hickey from contacting his alleged victims.