The College Park resident being charged with aiding a Pakistani-based terrorist organization pleaded not guilty to all charges at federal court in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday.

Ali Asad Chandia, 28, graduated from the University of Maryland, University College in May with a bachelor’s in information systems management. He also was a third grade teacher at Al-Huda School, a Muslim elementary school in northern College Park.

Chandia was arrested at his College Park home on Sept. 15 and was released on bond several days later. As part of his release, Chandia must wear an electronic tracking bracelet and put his mother’s Gaithersburg house up as collateral.

At his arraignment – where he could choose to plead guilty or not guilty – Chandia didn’t speak, said Edward A. Adams, a spokesman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. His trial date – where federal prosecutors and Chandia’s defense will present their cases – is set for Jan. 23.

If fully charged, Chandia faces 15 years in jail.

Chandia is charged with providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, and serving as the personal assistant to convicted spiritual leader Ali al-Timimi. Timimi was sentenced to life in prison in July as head of the Virginia Jihadist Network, federally designated terrorist group.

He is accused of providing 50,000 paintballs – which are widely-known to be used in terrorism training exercises – communicating with convicted members of the Virginian Jihadist Network and providing equipment to a terrorism official, the indictment says. The equipment included paintballs and an electronic automatic pilot system for small, remote-control airplanes, court papers say.

Chandia’s attorney, Marvin Miller, who could not be reached for comment by press time, previously said federal officials rushed to charge Chandia because they feared he would flee the country. As part of his release on bond, Chandia cannot obtain a new passport or leave the country.

In 2003, federal officials searched Chandia’s home and found an audio tape of al-Timimi that justified the destruction of Buddhist statues and books related to violent jihad, or Holy War waged based on Islam, according to court documents.

Contact reporter Jared A. Favole at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.