Doug Jacobsen has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of criminal mischief for removing five trees in front of his Main Street building.

Jacobsen entered his plea at the end of his preliminary hearing in 1st District Court on Tuesday.In the hearing before Judge Clint Judkins, defense attorney Brian Florence argued his client had the right to remove the trees because they were on his property.

But prosecutor Don Linton, citing requests made by Jacobsen and his father, Joe, for permission to remove the elms, said Jacobsen knew they were on city property.

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If convicted, Jacobsen faces up to five years in prison and a $9,250 fine for each of the five counts.

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