Michael Jace enters not guilty plea in wife's murder after waving rights to preliminary trial

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Actor Michael Jace entered a formal plea of not guilty to charges he allegedly murdered his wife Friday after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Appearing in an orange jail jumpsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jace sat quietly as attorneys discussed the charges against him. The 51-year-old actor is accused of murdering his wife April Jace in their Hyde Park home on May 19. Police say he called 911 and told the operator he had shot his wife.

His wife's body was found inside the house. She died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to her upper torso.

"At this point in time, the prosecution has turned over some discovery," Jace's attorney, Jason Sias said. "They have not turned over everything, we're still waiting on a couple of things, and the date that we picked is kind of like just a follow-up to check up on the case, to see where it's at, the status of the discoveries, the status of any motions, anything like that."

Jace has had a long acting career and is best known for his role as LAPD Officer John Lowe on "The Shield." He also appeared on "Southland," "Planet of the Apes," "Boogie Nights" and "Forrest Gump."

The couple had two children together and had been married for nine years. The children were inside the home when April Jace was killed, but were uninjured.

Court records show Michael Jace filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2011, listing debts between $500,000 and $1 million.

Jace has been held in lieu of $2 million bail since his arrest.

"Bail is just not an option for him, but it is something that we are still looking into," Sias said. "If things change, he will be having a bail hearing and a bail motion."

Police say the motive for the shooting was domestic violence. Jace was reportedly involved in a domestic violence incident with his first wife in 1997, according to court records.

Jane is due back in court on Sept. 17.