RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Rapid City woman is denying accusations from law enforcement authorities that she raped a 4-year-old girl last October.

Twenty-six-year-old Ashlee Goldsmith was arraigned in Pennington County this week and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree rape. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Pennington County Jail records show Goldsmith was arrested Feb. 12. Goldsmith's lawyer, Shiloh MacNally, tells the Rapid City Journal her client was babysitting the girl when the crime is alleged to have occurred.

Goldsmith is in custody on a $150,000 bond. MacNally on Thursday asked Seventh Circuit Court Judge Robert Mandel to lower Goldsmith's bond to $25,000. Mandel scheduled a bond hearing for March 14.

MacNally says Goldsmith is in protective custody, meaning she is segregated from the general jail population.

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