ASPEN ” A 44-year-old man was being held in the Pitkin County jail on $20,000 bond Thursday amid allegations he had sexual contact with a minor.

Landin G. Smith, of Aspen, is accused of unlawful sexual contact and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the alleged offenses, which are both classified as felonies.

District Court Judge James Boyd advised Smith of the potential penalties at an afternoon hearing. He is also accused of a related misdemeanor.

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Smith steadfastly denied the allegations saying that they were in “retaliation for another” case involving the victim.

“I know why,” he said to the judge.

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Smith also requested at the hearing that he be released on a personal recognizance bond.

He said he was not a “flight risk,” lived in the area for 14 years and he has never been a threat to the community.

Deputy District Attorney Richard Nedlin countered Smith was “extremely intoxicated” the night he was arrested for the alleged offenses. He also said that Smith has four open cases in Pitkin County.

Boyd subsequently denied Smith’s request and set bond at $20,000. The judge also set Smith’s next hearing at 10:30 a.m. April 6. The district attorney’s office is expected to file charges against Smith by that time.

Aspen police arrested Smith about 6 p.m. Wednesday. The alleged offenses stem from incidents that took place earlier this month, authorities said.

His arrest is the latest sexually tinged case involving adults and minors in the area.

Dandy Vickery, 46, was arrested March 19 for allegedly providing liquor to a minor and making a sexual advance on the youth.

Vickery is being held on a $15,000 bond in the Garfield County jail. The contributing to the delinquency of a minor count is a class IV felony and is punishable by up to six years in state prison.

The unlawful sexual contact count is a misdemeanor.

Vickery and Smith are acquaintances, authorities said. They were both arrested March 17 at Rubey Park in Aspen, and booked into the Pitkin County jail for unlawful consumption of alcohol in public, arrest records show.

whaupt@aspentimes.com