A Brownsdale man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges stemming from alleged sexual assaults on two teenage girls over the past several years.

Joshua Mittelsted, 33, has a combined nine counts of criminal sexual conduct, including four first-degree charges and five second-degree charges, all of which were done with victims younger than 13 to younger than 16.

According to a court complaint, Mittelsted allegedly abused the children in Brownsdale beginning in 2012. One victim told police Mittelsted started to abuse her on Halloween night that year and continued until late November 2014.

Both victims reported Mittelsted allegedly fondled them, inappropriately kissed them, rubbed his genitals and digitally penetrated them. Mittelsted allegedly told each of them not to tell anyone else, according to the report.

Neither victim knew Mittelsted allegedly molested the other until recently, according to the complaint. One of the victims decided to tell her father once the victims discussed Mittelsted’s molestation. The father notified police on Nov. 24.

Mittelsted’s next court appearance is in May.