(AP) — A child welfare expert accused of exposing himself to teenage girls in Lincoln has been placed on sick leave from his job.

The University of Southern Maine said that 68-year-old Steven Preister is on sick leave from his associate director job at the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement, based in Portland, Maine. The school is responsible for hiring at the center.

Preister is charged with public nudity and disturbing the peace in connection to an incident April 7 at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln. He is accused of yelling at four girls, following them to their room and trying to stop them from closing their door. The girls said Preister appeared intoxicated.

Preister has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges.