A Sparks man will appear before Judge Robert Perry Wednesday morning to enter a plea in the rape and murder of one woman and the rape and sexual assault of two others.

Prosecuting attorney Elliot Satler expects James Biela, 27, to plead not guilty for the highly-publicized January 2008 rape and murder of 20-year-old Brianna Denison.

After weeks of searching, Denison's body was found in February in a field in south Reno. Testimony and evidence from a Dec. 10 preliminary hearing were enough for Reno Justice Court Judge Patricia Lynch to hold Biela over for trial.

Biela also faces charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman on Dec. 16, 2007 and sexually assaulting another woman on Oct. 22, 2007.

Following Wednesday's arraignment, a trial date will be set and jury selection can begin.

As of press time, Biela's attorney, public defender Richard Davies, did not respond to inquiries about a possible change of trial venue. However, according to Satler, Davies would be the one to request such a change.

"The state has no intention if changing the venue," Satler said. "We think that he should be tried in the jurisdiction where the event occurred."

The arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Washoe District Court.