A Brookhaven man pleaded not guilty to child sexual abuse charges during a formal arraignment Tuesday in Lincoln County Circuit Court.

Eric D. Washington, 42, of 541 St. Charles Place, was indicted on June 1 for the offenses of touching, handling, etc. a child for lustful purposes and sexual battery. Washington entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday and remains at the Lincoln County Jail. His bond is set at $100,000.

Per the indictment, a grand jury presented that a day between May 24, 2014 and March 19, 2015, Washington did unlawfully and feloniously handle a female child under the age of 16 for lustful purposes.

The second count of abuse is described as having occurred within the same time period when Washington, who was then over 21 years old and more than 36 months older than his victim. Washington allegedly engaged in sexual penetration with the victim.

Washington’s next court date has been set for Sept. 14 in the court of Judge Michael Taylor. He has hired attorney Charles Miller from McComb. According to court documents, Washington has been arrested 12 times since 2003 for various charges including failure to pay child support.