VALPARAISO | John Norris broke down and began to cry in court Monday just moments after pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf on a charge of beating his girlfriend to death.

The 48-year-old reportedly became so upset he was taken back to the jail early rather than making an appearance before another judge to face a second felony charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

Norris is accused of beating Elizabeth Lepucki, 44, after he found her kissing another man Wednesday who they had invited back to their apartment at 7 Weston St. in Valparaiso.

Norris initially claimed he awoke Thursday morning to find Lepucki beaten and unconscious, but later admitted to causing the injuries that led to her death later that day, police said.

Norris, who is being held without bond at the county jail, was brought Monday morning before Porter Superior Judge Bill Alexa.

Norris started to become emotional as the details of the murder charge were read to him and he was informed of the potential penalty of between 40 and 60 years behind bars.

Alexa entered preliminary pleas of not guilty on his behalf, assigned public defender Dolores Aylesworth to represent him and ruled that he continue to be held without bond. A trial was set for Oct. 27, with preliminary hearings Aug. 22 and Sept. 26.

By the time Norris was returned to the jury box with the other jail inmates, he was crying and then escorted out of the courtroom.

He was to have appeared later that morning before Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford on the failure to register charge.

The judges later agreed to place both charges before Alexa.