Not-guilty plea in Wis. Social Security fraud case

By: Associated Press//October 26, 2012//

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AMHERST, Wis. (AP) — The lawyer for a Portage County man accused of helping to conceal his mother’s death for decades and collecting her Social Security payments has entered not-guilty pleas on his client’s behalf.

The public defender for 66-year-old Charles T. Jost entered the pleas Thursday to four felony charges. The charges include being party to the crimes of theft and mail fraud.

A message left for attorney Troy Nielsen was not immediately returned.

Jost, his sister and brother-in-law are accused of concealing the death of Marie Jost, who’d be 100 if she were still alive. Authorities say there’s no indication she’s been seen in 25 years, and they’ve been searching Jost’s Amherst property after cadaver dogs hit upon the scent of human remains.

The other two defendants have also pleaded not guilty.

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