SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP) - A 43-year-old father is set to stand trial on charges that he kidnapped his two young children and took them away on a stolen yacht.

The San Mateo Daily Journal reports that Christopher Maffei pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges including kidnapping, burglary and child endangerment. He was also denied a request to contact his 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

Prosecutors say Maffei took his son and daughter from their mother's South San Francisco home and took them on a 41-foot boat he had stolen from an Alameda marina.

Authorities found the yacht after it ran out of fuel and escorted the vessel to Santa Cruz Harbor. The kids were not hurt and Maffei was taken into custody.

A jury trial has been set for May 28.

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