AUGUSTA — A Madison man accused of sending his son to a Hallowell daycare with a loaded gun in his his backpack has pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless conduct, according to WGME.

An attorney for Adam J. Keene, 31, entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge on his behalf in Augusta District Court on Wednesday.

Kennebec County district attorney Maeghan Maloney told the Bangor Daily News in June that Keene had allegedly placed the gun in the boy’s bag while he was cleaning out his truck. Keene carried it into his home and forgot to take it out of the bag before the 4-year-old boy took his bag to his mother’s house and then to the daycare.

In April, an employee at the daycare found the loaded semiautomatic pistol in the boy’s clothing bag and called police.

“All weapons are seen as toys to children and parents have a responsibility to take care of them,” Maloney said in June. “By failing to keep control of his weapon, Mr. Keene acted in a reckless manner that could have ended in tragedy, not only for his family, but for an entire day care.”

Keene had reported his gun missing to police before the incident, but he allegedly didn’t tell his son’s mother about the missing gun. “When you realize it’s missing, you should notify the other parent that the weapon is missing,” Maloney said in June.

The DA told WGME that both sides are working to reach a deal.