52-year-old Jose Gallardo pleaded not guilty in Dixon County District Court to kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, terroristic threats, third-degree sexual assault of a child and child abuse.

Authorities say the girl was in Graves Park in Wakefield last May or June when Gallardo grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth, forced her to a corner of the park behind a concrete wall and groped her under her clothes. An approaching car startled him and she was able to escape.

Gallardo was arrested after one of his co-workers told police Gallardo had confessed the crime to him.