"East Coast Rapist" suspect Aaron Thomas pleads not guilty in Conn.

(CBS/AP) NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Aaron Thomas, the man suspected in a series of rapes along the East Coast has pleaded not guilty in a Connecticut case.

Thomas appeared briefly Tuesday in New Haven Superior Court on a charge that he raped a woman in New Haven in 2007. His attorney, public defender Joseph Lopez, entered the plea on behalf of Thomas, who kept his head lowered during the proceedings.

Thomas was arrested March 4 in his hometown of New Haven after authorities say DNA confirmed he was the so-called East Coast Rapist responsible for rapes and other attacks on 17 women since 1997 from Virginia to Connecticut.

The 39-year-old has been charged so far with the rape in Connecticut and three rapes in Virginia.

Police have released two photographs of Thomas. Both images, obtained first by The Washington Post, are mug shots of Thomas taken 10 years apart. The image on the left is from a June 2001 arrest on domestic assault and battery charges. The image on the right is his recent arrested in connection with the rape case.

Complete coverage of the "East Coast Rapist" case on Crimesider