PORTLAND, Ore. -- A trial date has been set July 28 for two former Northwest Airlines employees accused of stealing hundreds of items from checked luggage at Portland International Airport.

The second of the two, 46-year-old Jose Romero pleaded not guilty Monday to a grand jury indictment on theft charges.

Earlier, 43-year-old Bridgette D. Bunnell pleaded not guilty.

Investigators say the scheme was discovered early this year when Bunnell reported it to Port of Portland police.

Court papers say investigators later learned Bunnell was in on the thefts and raised the matter when she was no longer getting her share of the take.