Man pleads not guilty to charges related to attempted kidnapping in Buellton

A Buellton man who was arrested on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a child at a Buellton grocery store pleaded not guilty to related charges on Wednesday.

William “Bill” Henderson, 56, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment by violence and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to a child in care or custody.

Henderson was arrested in August after authorities said he tried to kidnap a 2-year-old child from a shopping cart at Albertson’s in Buellton. Henderson was eventually identified as the suspect and arrested a few days later.

Henderson is the owner of a transportation service in the Santa Ynez Valley.

He has repeatedly insisted he is innocent.

He is set to appear in court again on Oct. 24.