The couple charged with attempting to kill a pregnant woman entered pleas of not guilty at their Circuit Court preliminary hearing Thursday morning.

Their jury trial was scheduled for Dec. 16 before Circuit Court Judge Randal Lee.

Jessica Lee Hinebaugh was charged Oct. 9 with second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, kidnapping, second-degree identity theft, second-degree theft and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

Her boyfriend Michael Ayala, a 23-year-old Georgia resident, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, kidnapping, second-degree identity theft and second-degree theft.

Both remain in custody each unable to post $150,000 bail. 

According to the police affidavit Hinebaugh, without warning, tackled her 23-year-old sister, Casey Ann Jones, in her Mililani apartment at 11 a.m. Oct. 8. Jones is two months pregnant, according to the affidavit.

While Hinebaugh held her sister down, Ayala allegedly stabbed Jones several times in the back. Hinebaugh then ordered Jones to book two plane tickets for her and Ayala, using her older sister’s bank information, departing Honolulu for Miami the next day. Hinebaugh also allegedly took her older sister’s ATM card and personal identification number. Jones was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital by her husband and treated for her stab wounds.

A Honolulu Airport Transportation Security Agency agent who had received a police-issued alert about the robbery suspects, stopped the couple on Oct. 7 at a security check point. Ayala and Hinebaugh were then arrested by deputy sheriffs.