A man charged with attacking and kidnapping his former girlfriend entered a “not guilty” plea Tuesday in Douglas County District Court. On May 15 a trial date will be set.

But a trial may not be necessary.

Carl Cornwell, the attorney representing Matthew P. Jaeger, said he wanted to try to “resolve” the case with the Douglas County District Attorney’s office. Cornwell said he might try to work out a plea agreement.

Following a preliminary hearing last week, Jaeger was ordered to stand trial on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, bribery and making a criminal threat. Judge Robert Fairchild took under consideration a charge of aggravated kidnapping. On Tuesday, Fairchild ruled Jaeger should be tried on that charge as well.

Jaeger is free on $850,000 bond. He has to wear a GPS monitoring device and is not to be within 100 miles of his victim, a 22-year-old Lawrence woman, unless he’s in Lawrence for court proceedings. Fairchild declined Cornwell’s request to modify the conditions of the bond so that Jaeger does not have to wear the GPS device.

Jaeger was arrested on Oct. 9, 2007, by Lawrence police responding to a disturbance call at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of George Court. Jaeger is accused of breaking into the woman’s apartment, threatening her and a male friend, and then dragging the woman out to his car after severely injuring her.