LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – The suspended Las Vegas Metropolitan Police sergeant facing two separate criminal cases will stand trial early next year.

Kevin Menon pleaded not guilty in a Clark County court Wednesday to charges that he orchestrated false arrests on the Las Vegas Strip.

His trial for oppression, assault on a protected person and bribery for perjury is scheduled for March 31.

Menon was subsequently charged with possession of child sexual abuse material found during the course of police searches in the first case.

Prosecutors Nick Portz and Christopher Hamner wanted to increase Menon’s bond, arguing that he poses a flight risk and a danger to the community due to additional material charges of child sexual abuse.

Hamner called Menon a “pedophile” who kept nearly 600 graphic images of underage girls on four devices as “his treasures.” Prosecutors said the original bail amount was set before the child sexual abuse material was found.

But Menon’s defense lawyer, Dominic Gentile, assured the court that his client will not appear, that he is wearing a GPS device and that he is in possession of Menon’s passport and weapons.

Gentile also said Menon works in his office every day and offered a character letter from a local rabbi for the court to review.

But prosecutors said the oppression case should not be “viewed in a vacuum.”

Prosecutors also argued the validity of Menon’s own character letter that he presented in his defense. In it, Menon said he had transferred to Harvard University. He also said he had been guaranteed admission to Harvard Medical School.

But prosecutors said an email from Harvard’s Office of the General Counsel revealed that there are no records of Menon attending Harvard University or Harvard Medical School. However, he took a course at Harvard Extension School, which he dropped out of.

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Prosecutors also called a transcript of Menon’s grades found on his computer “false.” They said it was a Word document that could be modified at will.

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After hearing both arguments, District Court Judge Ronald Israel agreed with prosecutors and increased Menon’s bail to $150,000, considering all factors in the case. However, he allowed Menon to remain free on bail.

Menon’s wife was seen crying in court after the ruling.

Menon was given 24 hours to meet the additional bail amount or face arrest. Gentile told Channel 13 that Menon was on his way to post the new bail amount.

Gentile also said he was very happy with the outcome of the hearing and described himself as “Snoopy’s happy dance.” The defense attorney said his client is a “good law enforcement officer” and asked that he wait for trial before trying him.