Caledonia Argus

Two more not guilty pleas in oil vandalism

Posted: 6/22/04

Two more people who were charged in an oil-dumping vandalism incident in La Crescent have pled not guilty.

Christopher Glen Barnes, 17, La Crescent, made his not guilty plea on June 7; Kevin Humfeld, 18, Dakota, pled not guilty on June 11, both before Houston County Circuit Court Judge James Fabian.

Russell Robert Hunt, 18, Caledonia, appeared in Houston County Circuit Court on June 8 and asked for a public defender. Thomas Gort was appointed to represent him. Huntís next court appearance is June 25.

Tyler Wieser, 18, of La Crescent, pled not guilty to the same charges on May 25.

The four individuals each face three counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree, a felony.

Barnes is appearing in juvenile court because he is a minor.

The criminal complaint states that they dumped eight or nine pails of used motor oil on eight vehicles on the night of May 19. The vehicles belonged to six students and two teachers from La Crescent High School.

If convicted, the maximum penalty they could receive would be five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

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