MONROE - The suspect in the recent theft of three John Deere tractors, with a combined estimated value of $54,000, entered not guilty pleas Friday in Green County Circuit Court, where he faces several charges.

Mark J. Diekman, 26, Monroe, is charged with three counts of driving or operating a vehicle with the consent of the owner, a class I felony; theft of movable property, a class G felony; and burglary, a class F felony.

Diekman, appeared in court with his attorney, Roger Merry, before Circuit Judge James Beer, and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

John Deere tractors were taken from three locations - a property on Wisconsin 11 on April 24; from land on County KK on May 21; and one from a locked shed on County DR on May 24.

Green County Sheriff's deputies found two of the tractors on June 14, and worked with the Columbia County Sheriff's department to recover the third tractor on June 16.

Diekman has been released on $5,000 bond and must comply with terms of his bond, including not leaving Green County or Wisconsin without the permission of the court.

A pre-trial conference is set for 8:30 a.m. on July 26.