Texas Judge Claims Innocence In New Sex Abuse Charges

January 7, 2009 10:13 p.m. EST

Houston, TX (AHN) - A federal judge in Texas facing trial for sexual abuse charges against a court employee pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing a second employee on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent made the not guilty plea before 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Edward C. Prado a day after a grand jury indicted him for aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and obstruction of justice for forcing an unnamed female employee to participate in sex acts. The abuse on the second staff allegedly happened between January 2004 and January 2005.

In the first indictment made by the same grand jury last year, Kent's case manager Cathy McBroom accused the 17-year judge of Galveston of fondling her breast and other body parts and trying to force her head toward his groin in 2003 and 2007.

A conviction will send Kent to prison for life and compel him to pay $250,000 in fine.