PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (AP) -- A guard at the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution is accused of bribing male inmates with contraband so that he could have sexual contact with them.

The criminal complaint filed in Crawford County Circuit Court this week charged 58-year-old James Trentin of Prairie du Chien with 22 counts of second-degree sexual assault and six counts of delivering articles to inmates. His initial court appearance is scheduled April 7th.

The complaint says the incidents happened between last July and January and involved four inmates in their late teens and early 20s.

Trentin denied the accusations during police questioning.

Department of Corrections spokesman John Dipko said Trentin started as a correctional officer at the prison in October 2000.

He has been on paid leave since February 1st.