A 39-year-old Lawrence man accused of raping two young girls pleaded not guilty Thursday to two charges of child rape.

William Joseph Ellis Jr. is accused of raping two girls under age 10 whom he and his late wife, Angela Ellis, babysat, according to the affidavit supporting Ellis’ arrest.

In July 24, police interviewed the two alleged victims under the age of 10, who told officers that they had both been fondled and raped on numerous occasions at their “day care” in Ellis’ trailer home in the 1300 block of Delaware Street, according to the arrest affidavit.

Police arrested William Ellis on July 25. They then interviewed Ellis, during which he stated he had been sexually abusing the girls over the course of a year, according to the affidavit. Ellis also said he “touched them the way (he) shouldn’t have touched them” and wanted to “reach out for help for what he did,” according to the affidavit.

“You guys got me busted. I’m busted,” William Ellis told investigators, according to the affidavit. “I can’t give you exact numbers, I just know it happened. I’m stupid for doing it.”

Chief Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild set Ellis’ jury trial for Feb. 8. If convicted, he faces a “Hard 40” or minimum 40 years in prison for each count, according to prosecutors.

Ellis has a prior conviction of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child from 1996, according to court records.

He remains in the Douglas County Jail on a $500,000 bond.