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Former TV reporter enters not-guilty pleas

Surrey's Ron Bencze faces nine child-sex charges.
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Ron Bencze

Reporter Ron Bencze entered not-guilty pleas to multiple child sex charges in Surrey Provincial Court Wednesday morning.

Bencze did not appear in court himself, but had his lawyer enter the pleas on his behalf.

The Surrey resident is charged with nine offences involving three victims. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2001 and 2011.

Benze, 44, was first arrested in January, charged with sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference with a person under 16 and two of invitation to sexual touching involving a person under 16. A further four charges – two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference involving persons under the age of 16 – were laid last month.

Bencze is married with three children. He had been a reporter with Global TV since 2004, and had more than 20 years experience in the news industry. He was fired from his job at Global TV last month.

Bencze is not in custody, but has been ordered not to have any contact with his alleged victims or any other children.

An eight-day preliminary inquiry – where a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial – is scheduled for Jan. 24.