HILLSBORO, Ore. -- Former La Grande School District Superintendent Irv Nikolai pleaded innocent to charges of sexual abuse.

Irvin Nikolai as shown in a photo on the La Grande School District's Web site.

The 71-year-old is accused of inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl during a birthday party in Hillsboro last month. On Friday, Washington County Judge Gayle A. Nachtigal set Nikolai's trial for July 8.

Nikolai had been the interim superintendent since July 1 and was scheduled to step down at the end of June. He arrived in La Grande with 20 years of experience as a superintendent, the last 14 in Oregon. He was superintendent of the Lincoln County School District for three years before retiring in 2004.

 Background: Sex abuse case

Larry Glaze was named La Grande's next permanent superintendent May 5. He is currently superintendent of the Elgin School District.