A Brentwood man has been charged with the fatal beating of the mother of his children.

Bryan Bethea, 29, pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death Shantel Scott at his arraignment Monday.

The 27-year-old Scott, of Central Islip, was found unconscious after a party at her home July 2.

Prosecutors say the two got into an argument and Bethea slammed Scott against the floor and a wall, fracturing her skull. Scott's parents say he assaulted her a number of times in front of eyewitnesses. Bethea says he did not hurt Scott, and that her injuries were from being attacked by two women at the party.

Bethea is the father of three of Scott's children, who are in the care of relatives. He is due back in court next month.

At the time of Scott's death, Bethea was on parole for a 2009 conviction of attempted robbery.