Embattled Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen pleaded not guilty to 11 felony counts in Utah connected to his alleged baby-selling scheme. The charges in Utah include human smuggling and sale of a child.
He also faces charges in Arizona and federal charges in Arkansas.
Petersen was arrested in early October after officials across three states say he was running an illegal international adoption scheme for years. The scheme was allegedly centered around women from the Marshall Islands.
Petersen is accused of paying for pregnant Marshallese women to fly to the United States, where he would put them up until they gave birth.
Team 12's Bianca Buono gave an update on the case after Petersen's hearing concluded.
In Arizona, he’s also accused of claiming the women were Arizona residents so they could obtain state benefits.
Petersen would allegedly pay each pregnant woman up to $10,000 to put their children up for adoption. He would then allegedly charge adoptive families $30,000 to $40,000 per child.
Since Petersen’s arrest, advocates for the Marshallese women have spoken out, saying the women were told they did not have a choice in their adoption.
Eight pregnant women were found living in poor conditions in an apartment complex in Mesa. More than 20 pregnant women were found in Arkansas. Some of them were living in a duplex with padlocks on the doors.
Many of the pregnant women have since decided to keep their babies.
Petersen has already pleaded not guilty to federal charges in Arkansas and state charges in Arizona.
RELATED: Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen pleads not guilty to federal charges in baby trafficking case
He was suspended from his job as Maricopa County assessor, but is now fighting that suspension.
Petersen’s federal trial is set to begin on Dec. 9 in Arkansas.
MORE PETERSEN COVERAGE: