A 24-year-old Army soldier has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault involving a 23-year-old woman in Aiea.

Walter E. Butler Jr. of the 25th Infantry Division appeared Thursday in Circuit Court via closed-circuit video link from the Oahu Community Correctional Center after an Oahu grand jury indicted him March 8 on three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree theft.

His attorney, Jason Burks, pleaded not guilty to all charges on Butler’s behalf. Judge Colette Garibaldi confirmed his bail at $500,000 and set his trial for May.

Police said Butler and the woman are acquaintances.

During the early morning hours on March 4, court documents said, Butler allegedly sexually assaulted the victim inside his vehicle at a parking lot in Aiea.

Police said Butler choked her during the assault. Afterward the victim told police he “pushed her out of the vehicle and drove off.” Her cellphone and purse were inside the vehicle when he left.

The victim walked to a nearby hospital and reported the assault.

Woman sought in Makiki bank robbery

Honolulu police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 26-year-old woman who is wanted for allegedly robbing a Makiki bank.

A federal warrant is also out for her arrest, said Chris Kim, Crime­Stoppers spokesman.

Ava Anderson is wanted for suspicion of second-degree bank robbery involving the Bank of Hawaii branch at 1451 S. King St.

Police allege that Anderson entered the bank at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 and presented a demand note for money to the teller. She was given an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot, police said.

Anderson is 5 feet 5 inches tall, 120 pounds, with short brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on her left ring finger. She also has multiple tattoos on her upper arms.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellphone.