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A retired police sergeant turned TV reporter denied that he made sexual contact with two 12-year-old boys aboard a cruise ship to Mexico last fall.

Roderick Bernsen, 59, testified Thursday in a trial in downtown in which he is accused of two counts of abusive sexual contact on the Diamond Princess. Closing arguments are scheduled today.

Bersen said he was devastated by the allegations made by the two boys, who are cousins. "Just the accusation on its face is disgusting," he said.

Authorities said the boys claimed Bernsen tried to engage them in talk about puberty and erections while exposing himself to them in the ship's spa area. They alleged Bernsen then touched one boy's penis with his toe as the child left the sauna and slapped the other's bare buttocks.

Asked if he touched the boys, Bernsen responded, "Absolutely not." He denied there was talk of sex between him and the boys.

Bernsen acknowledged that while in steam rooms and saunas, he sometimes removes the towel around his waist, particularly if he is doing exercises for his back condition.

Now living in Colorado, Bersen was arrested Oct. 7 by FBI agents investigating a complaint by the mother of one of the boys. He was released on $850,000 bond and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

His career included stints in broadcasting and law enforcement. Bernsen was KTTV-TV's law enforcement specialist until he left the station in 2004. His broadcasting career followed service in the Los Angeles Police Department as a sergeant and spokesman. From late last year until May, he filled in as a KFI-AM radio talk show host.

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