A LeRoy man is accused of stalking and tampering with a witness to an assault.

Justin Paul Trachta, 27, pleaded not guilty in Mower County District Court Tuesday to one count of stalking and one count of first-degree witness tampering — both felonies.

According to a court complaint, a man Trachta had allegedly assaulted earlier this year called police on April 17 after receiving threatening text messages from Trachta. The victim had received several texts allegedly from Trachta, which said things like “Hide behind the cops, punk,” “if I wants u, Ima get you [sic]. With cops there or not,” and “there’s going to be a time the fuzz won’t be around. When that happens, justice will be served.”

Trachta also allegedly sent the victim a message that Trachta and his roommate would patiently wait to get back at the victim, according to the report. The victim told Mower County Sheriff’s deputies he saw Trachta’s roommate drive by his home at high speeds shortly after receiving the texts.

Authorities found Trachta and the roommate at their apartment in LeRoy. Trachta denied sending the texts and told the deputies he and his roommate had just come home from work in Rochester. He also told police his roommate couldn’t have driven past the victim’s house as neither Trachta or the roommate had a valid license.

Deputies arrested Trachta at his apartment on April 22. According to the complaint, Trachta allegedly balled his fists, leaned toward deputies and shouted an obscenity before he was restrained.

Trachta was previously convicted of terroristic threats in 2007 and violated a harassment restraining order in 2008. His next court appearance is June 13.