WEBSTER CITY — A man charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend has entered a plea of not guilty in Hamilton County District Court.

Zackery Nelson Bassett, 32, of Webster City, entered a written plea of not guilty Monday in the death of Andrea Sokolowski. Bassett also waived his right to a speedy trial.

A jury trial was set for March 5 at 9 a.m. in the Hamilton County Courthouse, according to online court records.

Bassett was arrested on Nov. 14 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and is being held in the Hamilton County Jail. Online records show his bail was set at $500,000 cash only.

Webster City police and paramedics from Van Diest Medical Center were dispatched to an apartment in downtown Webster City, 639 1/2 Second St., Apt. 1, on Sept. 22, on a report of an unresponsive female, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The caller, who was Bassett, reported that his girlfriend, Sokolowski, was not breathing.

According to the criminal complaint, “When the ambulance arrived the defendant told the responders that he had awoken and found Sokolowski unresponsive. The defendant said he had called his mom and dad and also performed CPR prior to calling 911. The defendant said he did not start CPR for 15 to 30 minutes, due to calling his dad first. His father confirmed during a recent interview with investigators that the defendant did not call him or contact him on the night of Sokolowski’s death. The defendant said that both he and Sokolowski had been drinking prior to him finding her unresponsive.”

Sokolowski was pronounced dead at the Van Diest Medical Center emergency room in Webster City.

She was 50.

An autopsy conducted at the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny, found “hemorrhaging near the right carotid artery, petechia hemorrhages to the eyes and face and contusions on the upper arms.”

Investigators learned that earlier in the year Sokolowski suffered numerous injuries. In two separate incidents during the summer, it’s alleged that Sokolowski suffered an injury to her mouth which required dental work and later was pushed into a window at a motel by Bassett, according to the complaint.

A protective order was in effect at the time of her death, according to the criminal complaint filed with the Hamilton County attorney’s office.

Sokolowski grew up in southern Texas before moving to Iowa, according to her obituary.