A Columbia Falls man has entered not-guilty pleas in a trio of cases including one alleging he was operating a methamphetamine lab in a van.

George Burger, 44, is charged with felony criminal endangerment, felony theft and felony operation of an unlawful clandestine laboratory.

The first case alleges that Burger’s soon-to-be ex-wife was in a vehicle with her and Burger’s daughter as well as her new boyfriend on July 20, 2013, when Burger drove up to the vehicle and started ramming it. A witness said he believed Burger was intentionally trying to harm the man and his passengers.

The second case alleges that Burger stole several thousands of dollars’ worth of rafting equipment, including a raft, in September 2012. The items  later were located at Replay Sports and allegedly traced back to Burger.

The third case alleges Burger’s wife reported him to law enforcement on Jan. 4 to report a physical disturbance as well as her belief that he had a meth lab in a red van.

A sheriff’s deputy found Burger in a black Ford Bronco in a ditch and arrested Burger. It alleges Burger had a snort tube with white powdery residue.

A search of the van allegedly turned up several items involved in the manufacture of meth, including beakers and a plate and coffee filter with white residue.

During a recent hearing on the meth case in Flathead District Court, past convictions came to light. Burger said he was convicted of a misdemeanor drug crime in 1992, theft in 1995 and receiving stolen property in 2003.

Burger is currently incarcerated in the county jail, where his bond is set at $75,000 He asked to be released on his own recognizance or to have his bond lowered to either a $20,000 commercial bond or a $2,000 cash bond.

He argued that he needed to be released because his wife is taking care of his 23-year-old autistic son, for whom he is the Social Security payee. She is also taking care of their two younger children, ages 11 and 13. One of the younger children and his wife are alleged victims in the criminal endangerment case.

District Judge Robert Allison denied the bond reduction request.

A restraining order has been filed against Burger by his wife as part of divorce proceedings. That order bars him from seeing the two younger children unless he is supervised.

If convicted in all three cases, Burger faces up to 60 years in the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $125,000, as well as any restitution.

His next hearings are April 9 in the theft case and May 7 in the meth-lab case with a jury trial set for March 3 in the criminal endangerment case.