In an expected move Thursday afternoon, Brendt Christensen of Champaign, pleaded not guilty to federal kidnapping charges in connection with the disappearance of Yingying Zhang.

In the brief court appearance, US Magistrate Judge Eric Long informed Christensen that a grand jury had returned an indictment of kidnapping against him.

The date for a trial was set for September 12th in Urbana at the Federal Courthouse.

Christensen was formally indicted last Wednesday. Last Friday, the Champaign County Crimestoppers announced that they have raised the reward for information leading to Yingying Zhang’s whereabouts had been raised to $50,000.

The police and FBI are still searching for Zhang, however they do not believe that the visiting chinese scholar is still alive.