A Honolulu police officer accused of sexually assaulting a prostitute pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court yesterday.

Michael Tarmoun, 37, pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual assault. His trial is scheduled for October. The two-year Honolulu Police Department officer remains free on $50,000 bail.

HPD said it has taken away Tarmoun’s police powers and reassigned him to desk duty.

The state says Tarmoun picked up a prostitute last month who agreed to have sex with him for money in Waikiki and took her to a girlfriend’s apartment. When the prostitute realized Tarmoun was a police officer, she refused to go through with their agreement and asked him to arrest her.

Tarmoun instead forced the prostitute to have sex with him and did not pay her, the state says.