Lance Goode, charged earlier this month in connection with the Aug. 29, 2013, shooting death of Jesus “Gee” Pinero in New London, pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his first appearance in the court where major crimes are heard.

Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein appointed attorney Linda J. Sullivan to represent Goode and continued the case to June 4. Sullivan said on that date, she will ask for a hearing to reduce Goode’s $50,000 cash bond.

Goode, who has a lengthy criminal history and is suing the New London police, is charged with first-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with a witness. During the investigation, New London police seized a minivan belonging to Goode’s wife, Lillian. Goode told The Day he had nothing to do with the homicide.

Pinero, 29, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being shot near Connecticut Avenue and Prest Street. On May 5, city police retrieved his alleged killer, 28-year-old Keith Ramel Delvalle, from the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City and brought him back to Connecticut to face charges of murder, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm and commission of a Class A felony with a firearm.

At Tuesday’s court appearance, Strackbein granted a request by State’s Attorney Michael L. Regan to continue sealing an arrest warrant affidavit detailing the New London Police Department’s case against Delvalle and Goode. Regan said the state is waiting to see whether Delvalle will opt for a probable cause hearing and that the investigation is continuing. Delvalle’s next court date is May 29.

New London police detectives were in the courtroom Tuesday during Goode’s appearance. Goode has a pending civil rights lawsuit against city police claiming a former city police officer planted drugs on him during one arrest and that he was brutalized and bitten by a police dog during another.