A Montana State Prison inmate serving time for kidnapping and attempted murder out of Flathead County has denied charges that he assaulted two prison guards in Deer Lodge.

Joseph Aceto, 55, made his initial appearance via video conference Tuesday before District Judge Ray Dayton and pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault on a peace officer, Deputy County Attorney for Powell County Jeanine Badanes said.

Aceto is accused of attacking two guards and punching them when they tried to break up a fight involving several inmates in the high security gym at the prison, according to Badanes. The guards sustained minor injuries. 

Back in 2006, Aceto was sentenced for shooting at his former girlfriend and then holding her captive in Flathead County.

Aceto is serving a sentence of more than 200 years.