Daniel DeJarnette, 59, is accused of killing his 56-year-old wife, Yu DeJarnette, and leaving her body on a lava embankment near their home in November 2006.
He was arrested on Monday after a grand jury indicted him on one count of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say DeJarnette beat his wife to death. At the time, he claimed she died in an accident.
DeJarnette pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Tuesday.
