Former House of Cards star Kevin Spacey has appeared in court to face a criminal charge that he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old after plying him with alcohol at a bar in Nantucket more than two years ago.

Dressed in a grey suit and tie, Mr Spacey did not speak during the brief pre-trial hearing, but his lawyers entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

The 59-year-old Oscar-winning actor was charged last month with one count of felony indecent assault and battery.

A judge ordered him at Monday’s hearing not to contact his alleged victim, setting another hearing for March 4.

The judge ruled Mr Spacey did not have to appear at the next hearing, but he needed to be available by phone.

The judge also granted a request by Mr Spacey’s lawyers to preserve the victim’s mobile phone data from the six months following the alleged July 7, 2016 assault.

Mr Spacey’s attorney Alan Jackson said there was data that was “likely exculpatory” for Spacey.

Nantucket, a beach resort island off the Massachusetts coast that is normally quiet in early January, was packed with broadcast trucks on Monday.

More than two dozen journalists packed the courtroom hours before Mr Spacey was scheduled to appear.

Source: www.abc.net.au