The territorial MLA charged with sex crimes that date back more than 30 years is taking his matter to trial.

This morning, defence counsel Edward Horembala appeared for 57-year-old Haakon Arntzen, the Yukon Party MLA for Copperbelt, and indicated to the court his client will be pleading not guilty.

Arntzen is facing three counts of indecent assault on a female and assault against the same person, charges that date between April 1972 in Haines Junction and up to September 1980 in Whitehorse.

Arntzen is also charged with indecent assault against another female between 1975 and 1977.

Publication bans protect the identities of the two female complainants.

Between now and Arntzen's next appearance on May 14, he will decide whether to take his trial to the territorial court level or the Yukon Supreme Court, Horembala explained.

If an accused elects Supreme Court, he has a further choice between a judge-alone trial and judge and jury. In both cases, a preliminary hearing takes place first to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Territorial court trials do not have preliminary hearings.

If Arntzen elects territorial court, he must formally enter his plea at that point, while a Supreme Court election doesn't immediately require a plea.

'In any event, he will be pleading not guilty,' Horembala said.