A former Nebraska county jail guard has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting female inmates.

Louis P. Campana Jr. of Holdrege is facing eight counts of first-degree sexual assault.

Campana was arrested on Nov. 6 -- about a month after the investigation began. He pleaded not guilty in Phelps County court and waived his preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors say Campana assaulted four different inmates at the jail last year. Campana would provide inmates with candy and pop and do favors for them, so he could say the victims owed him.

Prosecutors say Campana used a door to the cellblock that wasn't covered by video cameras.

Campana worked as a Phelps County corrections officer from April 2010 to October 2012.

He remains free on $150,000 bond.