Does a defendant's plea of not guilty in a motor vehicle case contradict the fact that he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot and, when apprehended, denied having taken or driven the vehicle?

abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot and, when apprehended, denied having taken or driven the stolen vehicle. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding the prior incident sufficiently similar to allow testimony regarding that incident on the issue of intent. Because defendant's plea of not guilty placed the issue of intent in dispute (People v. Rowland (1992) 4 Cal.4th 238, 260), the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding the evidence of the prior bad act was probative.