A Covington man accused of murdering a 16-year-old Federal Way student nearly 30 years ago pleaded not guilty to the killing on Oct. 17.

Patrick Leon Nicholas, age 55, is scheduled for a case setting hearing Dec. 3 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. His trial date is expected to be set within 60 days following that hearing, according to court documents.

Nicholas was charged in October with first-degree murder in the killing of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough on Dec. 14, 1991. Her body was found raped and strangled in a wooded area of the Federal Way High School campus.

Nicholas is being held at the Regional Justice Center in lieu of $5 million bail.