Man pleads not guilty to dine-and-dash dating allegations

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California man accused of going on dates with women only to ditch them when the check came has pleaded not guilty to additional charges filed against him.

Forty-five-year-old Paul Guadalupe Gonzales pleaded not guilty Friday to four new felony counts of extortion. Two theft charges were dismissed.

Gonzales previously pleaded not guilty to other charges of attempted extortion, fraud and theft. He has a hearing set for Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Gonzales used dating apps to meet women, took them to dinner at restaurants throughout Los Angeles County and then left without paying any part of the bill.

Prosecutors say eight women ended up paying themselves and that restaurants picked up the check in two cases. If convicted, Gonzales faces more than 16 years behind bars.