A Newhall business owner accused of sexual harassment is scheduled for a pretrial hearing next month.

Sam Albert Gardian was charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery in connection with the allegation, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is scheduled for pretrial on Feb. 24 at the Santa Clarita Courthouse.

Gardian’s attorney characterized the charges and an accompanying lawsuit as a retaliation attempt by an employee who was disciplined on multiple occasions at Southern Smoke BBQ & Brewhouse on Main Street.

Court records indicate the allegation took place April 24, and the charges were filed June 27 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges include an allegation that the victim was employed by the suspect.

Gardian pleaded not guilty in June of 2016 to the misdemeanor charges in penal code section 242, “any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another,” and section 243.4(E)(1).