Christofer Kitto, the Albany police officer accused of shooting and killing a man in Utica, has pleaded not guilty to charges of patronizing a prostitute.

According to police, Kitto was with a prostitute when another man came in, flashed a knife and tried to rob him. Police say Kitto, who was off-duty, then shot the man.

Police in Utica ruled that the homicide was "justifiable," and police in Albany placed Kitto on leave without pay.

Kitto, arraigned Wednesday in Oneida County, is next due back in court on March 29.