(Spirit Lake)– A former Spirit Lake Police Chief has pleaded not guilty to charges of fourth degree theft and non-felonious misconduct in office.
A written plea was entered on Dan Thomsen’s behalf by his attorney, Pamela Wingert, earlier this week in Dickinson County District Court. Trial is set for June 14th.
The charges stem from a state audit that turned up unauthorized checking accounts in the Spirit Lake Police Department when Thomsen was Chief.
The report also refers to a 6,500-dollar payment made to Thomsen after he resigned in March, 2002 as part of a verbal agreement between him and Mayor Eric Nielsen.
The charges against Thomsen are serious misdemeanors punishable by a fine up to 1,500-dollars and up to a year in jail.
