(AP) — A Lincoln bus driver who was fired after a video showed him beating a rider has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault.

43-year-old Troy Fischer entered his plea Tuesday during a brief court hearing.

The StarTran Bus Service suspended Fischer for two days and then fired him after a disciplinary hearing. He also was charged with misdemeanor assault.

The case stems from a March 23 incident that was recorded on surveillance video from the bus.

The video showed Fischer appearing to punch a 40-year-old rider more than a dozen times before pushing him off the bus.