Albany man pleads not guilty to criminal sex acts

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man pleaded not guilty to criminal sex acts, according to a newly unsealed indictment. Dontie Mitchell, 44, is accused of engaging in forced sexual contact with another person on November 26, 2021 and February 1, 2022.

Mitchell was sent to Albany County Jail and will next appear in court in August.

Mitchell, who became an anti-violence activist after spending years in jail for armed robbery, is also facing attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Those charges are in connection to the shooting death of Shieer Leggett in August 2023. Mitchell was initially charged with second degree murder, but that count was dropped.