A Los Angeles Police Department officer accused of exposing himself to females in a Huntington Beach nature reserve pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of lewd acts and indecent exposure.

Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, is accused of walking up to five victims on six separate occasions last year and exposing himself at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Officials said Galliher was off duty when he allegedly exposed himself to the victims, who range in age from 12 to 80 years old.

Galliher is charged with one felony count of attempted lewd act on a child under 14 and one felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act. He is also charged with five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct, prosecutors said.

He appeared for arraignment at the Westminster Courthouse on Monday and was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 10.

Galliher is free on $100,000 bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison and a mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.

Prosecutors said Galliher approached the same 12-year-old girl on two separate occasions in February and March and exposed himself to her.

On Oct. 20, Galliher, a Huntington Beach resident, is accused of standing naked in the Bolsa Chica Wetlands area, whistling to two 19-year-old and 18-year-old women jogging and exposing himself to them.

Police arrested Galliher near the wetlands Oct. 23 after he pulled down his shorts and began masturbating in public, prosecutors said.

Galliher was hired by the LAPD in November 2011 and was previously assigned to the department’s Southwest Division, according to LAPD officials.

He remains with the department but has been re-assigned to home while the criminal investigation and LAPD’s own administrative internal investigation continue, officials said.

In a statement issued after Galliher’s arrest, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said he would reserve judgment until the investigations have been completed.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com