CLOVERDALE, Ind. - A Cloverdale man faces a felony charge after he tried to board a school bus with a shotgun, police said.

The incident happened the morning of Dec. 6, more than a week before the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., at a bus stop in Cloverdale.

Police said Henry T. Tillberry Jr., 46, showed up at the bus stop and then tried to board a Cloverdale Community School Corporation bus, saying he wanted to talk to some neighbor children about their pit bulls.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Tillberry didn't display the gun in a threatening manner, keeping it at his side, and left peacefully after the bus driver told him he couldn't bring the gun on board.

Tillberry pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of attempted possession of a firearm on a school bus, a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Tillberry is expected back in court in February.