LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A former U.S. Olympic boxing champion plead not guilty on Thursday to charges of molesting a female student.

53-year-old Paul Gonzales was arraigned on Thursday on eight felony counts, including four counts of committing lewd acts with one of his 13-year-old students. Gonzales won the light flyweight gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He is the first American Latino man to become an Olympic champion.

Gonzales hung up his gloves in 1991 and has worked as the head coach at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club on East Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles for the past 10 years.

Gonzales was arrested on Dec. 29 after his misconduct was reported to police by one of the student's family members.

Gonzales could face up to 18 years and four months in state prison if convicted of four counts of lewd acts with a child and one count of an attempted lewd act upon a child. He is also charged with possession of child pornography, distributing or showing pornography to a minor and contact with a minor for a sexual offense, a local news outlet, City News Service, reported.

"We believe that he befriended her and that he groomed her and we believe that lewd conduct was committed against her over a period of time," sheriff's Lt. Todd Deeds was quoted as saying by City News Service.

Gonzales currently remains in jail and his bail is set at 545,000 USD (3 448 433 CNY).