PORTLAND – A Portland man who authorities say owns an unlicensed bar pleaded innocent Tuesday to furnishing alcohol to minors, including three who died in a highway crash early this year.

No trial date was set in Cumberland County Superior Court for John Donovan Sr., who was indicted on 17 misdemeanor counts, most of them related to serving underage drinkers between July and January.

Donovan’s establishment, Horseshoes, came under scrutiny by the state Bureau of Liquor Enforcement after the Jan. 13 accident that killed three high school students from Portland.

Among those who allegedly were served alcohol at Horseshoes was Michael O’Brien, 19, who police say was driving at speeds of more than 100 mph when he lost control of his Ford Taurus and vaulted over a guardrail on Tukey’s Bridge.

O’Brien’s friends Nathaniel MacConnell, 19, and Jason Carr and Crystal Young, both 18, died instantly.

Police said O’Brien had a blood alcohol level of 0.12 percent after the crash, well over the 0.08 legal limit for adults.

O’Brien has pleaded innocent to three counts of manslaughter.

Donovan’s lawyer, Daniel Lilley, denies that his client was running a bar. He said guests at Horseshoes included friends of Donovan’s family who were not charged for drinks but made donations to support the establishment.