SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former councilman of a northeastern Iowa town has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing two young girls. The Sioux City Journal reports that the former Sac City councilman, 76-year-old Gary Hansen Sr., entered a written plea Thursday in Sac County District Court to four counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Police say Hansen had sexual contact with two girls who were then under the age of 12 in 2009 and 2010. Police say one of the victims was about 6.

Hansen served on the Sac City Council until 2015, when he lost a bid for re-election. Hansen’s attorney, Jason Rieper of Des Moines, says his client plans to fight the charges at trial, although they “are reviewing our options.”