FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A judge who once presided over sexual assault cases now facing one himself.  Retired Fresno County Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona was in court Thursday for a status hearing after a grand jury indicted him on sexual assault charges. The indictment was unsealed in September, revealing details of what happened to the public for the very first time. Corona has entered a not-guilty plea.  The 65-year-old is facing one count of sexual penetration by force fear or duress, which is a felony, and one count of sexual battery, which is a misdemeanor.  He retired in April, just weeks after the Fresno County District Attorney's Office said the alleged assaults took place. A press release from their office said the alleged crimes were committed on March 14.  One of his lawyers, Michael Aed, spoke with reporters after the hearing, but not commenting on the facts of the case.  "He served 20 years as a judicial officer in good standing. He's a compassionate, charitable and humble man. And he looks forward to the opportunity to have this matter tried in the public court. He believes in the criminal justice system, and he expects to be vindicated at the end of this case," Aed said.  When asked if the alleged assault was against a courthouse employee, Aed responded that he could not answer that question.   "There was a grand jury that was impaneled in this particular case. That transcript has been sealed," he replied.  But a Fresno County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed the allegations took place at the Fresno County Superior Court, meaning the same courthouse where he faced a judge on Thursday was where the crimes allegedly happened.  Over his career, Corona has worked on many high-profile felony trials, including many dealing with sex crimes. A search of the Fresno County Superior Court website shows some of the cases he's worked on even involved minors.  Retired Tulare County judge Joseph Kalashian is presiding over Corona's case. Corona's attorneys said he doesn't have any restrictions on his movement. They also said they won't comment on the timing of his retirement and any connection that might have had to the alleged crime.  "The court of public opinion is not where we want to be. And that's the problem. We can't obviously- anybody would have concern about such salacious allegations being made, but we stand by the not guilty plea that's been entered in this case and we will try this case in court," Aed said.  The status hearing is continued to December and a tentative trial will begin on Jan. 9, 2025. If convicted, he could face up to eight years in state prison and would have to register as a sex offender.