A Washington State man has pleaded not guilty to beating and stabbing to death his 3-year-old son in a southwestern Montana field.

Jeremy Cramer of Lacey was arraigned Wednesday in District Court in Anaconda, about five miles from where Broderick Cramer's body was found July 9th.

The 38-year-old Cramer, wearing a black-and-white striped jumpsuit and orange sandals, spoke only once to answer Judge John Larson affirmatively that he understood his rights.

Public defender Walter Hennessey entered an initial not guilty plea, telling Larson he didn't want to prejudice any possible defenses.

After the five-minute hearing, Cramer was escorted back to the Anaconda-Deer Lodge jail, where he is being held on $250,000 bail.

Prosecutors say Cramer told his father in a rambling jailhouse phone call that he killed his son.

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