NEW YORK — A counselor with the city's Department of Juvenile Justice was charged Tuesday with the rape and sexual abuse of three teenage girls who were in his custody at family court.

Tony Simmons, a 16-year employee of the agency, was held on $100,000 cash bail. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison on each of two third-degree rape counts, the most serious charges.

No plea was entered at the arraignment, but Simmons' lawyer, Richard Charney, said his client "absolutely denies all the charges." Charney said Simmons has "no history of this kind of behavior."

Prosecutor Amir Vonsover told Judge Felicia Mennin that the 45-year-old Simmons assaulted the three girls _ two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old _ in 2005 and 2008 in the Manhattan Family Court building.

Vonsover said a fourth girl accused Simmons of sexually abusing her but that the statute of limitations had lapsed and Simmons could not be charged with assaulting her.

Simmons was assigned to pick up girls in custody in the Bronx and bring them to Manhattan for hearings, Vonsover said. The first complaint against Simmons was filed in July and "the investigation led to the next and the next and the next," he said.

Vonsover reported that four witnesses identified Simmons in a lineup as their assailant. He said three girls are ready to testify against him at trial.

Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said that after juvenile justice officials learned of the allegations in July, they suspended Simmons for 30 days without pay, barred him from contact with kids and assigned him to desk duty.

Simmons is due to return to court Dec. 5.