A Filipino American minister pleaded not guilty to charges he endangered a child’s welfare.

Court records indicate police on Staten Island in New York arrested Glennonsalvador Payabyab on April 3.

The mother of a 12-year-old girl accused the minister of sending 20 texts to her daughter over just four days asking her to send “whole body” photos, according to the Daily Tribune.

He is scheduled to appear in court on June 3 on the misdemeanor charge and has been released from jail.

The mother of the girl posted on Facebook her frustrations about how the case is being handled.

“Why does my daughter need to feel uncomfortable going for an afterschool walk with her friends. Why does my daughter need to look over her shoulder every two seconds to see if its him. When I get the mail, is he there on the corner?

According to the mother, the defendant just lives down the block from her home.

In a statement to SILive.com, Payabyab’s attorney,  Kyle Peters, cautioned against jumping to conclusions.

“These are deeply troubling allegations, but they are mere allegations that Mr. Payabyab vehemently denies. Mr. Payabyab is a respected member of the community with no criminal history or prior accusations of wrongdoing. We are gravely concerned about the tone and nature of online rhetoric surrounding this case. We have already seen threats of violence and calls for extrajudicial punishment that have put Mr. Payabyab and his family in fear of physical danger. We understand the intense emotions the allegations have stirred in our community, but an investigation is ongoing within the proper legal channels. If found guilty in a court of law, Mr. Payabyab will face the full weight of the legal system. We urge the community to allow the legal process to proceed, and to resist the temptation to respond with threats or violence.“

Payabyab is next scheduled to appear in court on June 3 in Richmond Criminal Court.

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