SEBRING - Local activist Preston Colby pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on misdemeanor trespassing and petit theft charges Thursday.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin filed the charges against Colby on Jan. 22, three months after Colby's vehicle was seized and searched at the Road and Bridge Department.

A property receipt from the search showed that a "shovel, blue plastic lid and asphalt or concrete like rock" were collected.

Houchin said in January that the two rocks were "too small to be worth much, but were valued at under $300."

Colby was offered a chance by the state to settle the matter, but decided not to take the state's offer and pled not guilty to both charges.

Additionally, Colby, representing himself at the proceedings,refused to waive his rights to a speedy trial and upheld his rights to a trial by a jury with his plea.

Colby also asked the court to take notice that the Highlands County Road and Bridge, which is listed as the victim, was not "a legal entity" and therefore had no property rights.

Judge Anthony Ritenour granted the prosecution a hearing on the specific point of law, and set a pre-trial hearing for March 4.

Ritenour also granted the prosecution's request that Colby draft a formal motion to argue the legal standing of Road and Bridge as an entity, and set the pretrial conference for March 15.

"I have no comment on the case at this point," Colby said on Friday.

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