Former Global BC reporter Ron Bencze pleaded not guilty to nine child sex charges in court Wednesday.
Bencze, 44, did not personally appear in Surrey provincial court. Instead his lawyer appeared on his behalf and entered the plea.
Bencze has previously stated that he plans to defend himself on all charges.
He was initially charged in January with five charges of sexual assault, including sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching against one minor under the age of 16. The alleged offences go back to 2001 when the victim was only six years old.
This spring, the RCMP investigation into the matter resulted in further charges involving two more victims.
The married father-of-three has been prohibited from having any contact with any young person.
He was fired from his job at Global BC last month.
He began working at Global BC in August 2004 and won accolades for his work on the the Robert Pickton serial killer trial as well as a 2005 series on crystal meth.
Bencze started his nearly 20-year-long career in journalism in his hometown of Kamloops, where he produced and hosted a children's show.
He was an assistant coach there for the past five years with the Surrey United Soccer Club. Since charges were laid, Bencze has been removed from the club's website.
