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Man Accused Of Strangling Teen In Rockville Centre Pleads Not Guilty To Murder, Sex Abuse

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A grand jury has indicted a Long Island teenager on murder and sex abuse charges in the death of an 18-year-old newlywed.

Maxwell Sherman, 18, of Long Beach, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree sexual abuse during a brief court appearance in Mineola on Wednesday.

The body of 18-year-old Lauren Daverin was found naked and beaten near a footbridge in Rockville Centre on Aug. 22.

Sherman had spoken with CBS reporters one day before his arrest. At the time, Sherman was not a suspect, but he said he was part of the group hanging out with Daverin the night she was murdered.

Lauren Daverin
Lauren Daverin's body was found on a footbridge in Rockville Centre Aug. 22, 2013. (credit: Facebook)

Police said at some point Sherman strangled Daverin.

The indictment is the first mention that sex abuse may have been involved in the case. Officials have not disclosed exactly what happened to Daverin.

Prosecutors said Sherman is unemployed and lives in a home on Louisiana Street in Long Beach with his parents.

He is being held without bail. If convicted, Sherman faces up to 25 years in prison.

Daverin, a Lynbrook native, had been living in Louisiana with her husband who is in the U.S. Air Force and was on Long Island visiting her mom when she was murdered.

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