AUBURN – A man accused of raping two young girls and holding them hostage in his home pleaded innocent Tuesday to 22 felony charges.

George Yeaton III, 38, of Leeds, said only two words during his brief appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court: “Not guilty.”

Given the seriousness of the charges and his prior criminal record, his bail was set at $125,000 in cash or $300,000 in property.

His lawyer, Thomas Goodwin, assured the court that he likely would not be able to afford either.

Yeaton was arrested Oct. 28 after a police standoff at his home on Route 106 in Leeds. Police say he had two young girls – one younger than 18 and another younger than 12 – in the home with him.

The 22 charges stem from allegations that he raped both girls during the four days before the standoff. He refused to let them go while threatening to hurt them and kill them.

At the time of his arrest, he was out on bail for previous charges of terrorizing and operating under the influence.

His criminal record also includes prior convictions for terrorizing, robbery and burglary, Assistant District Attorney Deborah Potter Cashman told a judge Tuesday.

“I consider him a serious flight risk,” Cashman said.

She requested that bail be set at $250,000 in cash. Yeaton’s lawyer argued that bails are hardly ever set that high, and he asked for something lower while explaining that Yeaton couldn’t afford much.

Justice Ellen Gorman set cash bail at half of the state’s request. As conditions of his bail, Yeaton cannot contact his victims or any children under 18. He also cannot use any firearms.

The case came to the attention of police around noon on Oct. 28 when the mother of one of the young girls called for help. In addition to the charges involving the girls, Yeaton is accused of restraining and assaulting that woman with a knife the day before the standoff.

He is also accused of telling one of the girls that he would shoot her mother.

After Yeaton was arrested, police searched his home. Sheriff’s officials said they found several weapons, including a knife, numerous rifles and ammunition.

In total, Yeaton faces seven counts of gross sexual assault, four counts of terrorizing, two counts of criminal restraint, one count of kidnapping, one count of aggravated assault and numerous counts of violating conditions of release and protection orders.

If convicted on even some of the charges, he could be sent to prison for more than 30 years.