An appeal by a Wisconsin man found guilty by a Koochiching County jury of not paying a toll to cross the International Bridge was rejected this week.

Dean M. Crist, 62, Minocqua, Wis., was found guilty Nov. 3 on two counts of misdemeanor theft of services for not paying the toll and crossing the bridge, jointly owned by Boise Inc. and Fort Frances’ Abitibi Bowater paper mills.

The two complaints alleged that Crist crossed the bridge without paying the toll more than 11 times over three years.

Crist represented himself in the Nov. 3 jury trial. International Falls Attorney Steve Shermoen prosecuted the case.

In total that day, Crist was convicted of five misdemeanor theft counts.

As part of the sentence, Crist was ordered to stay off the bridge for two years. He was sentenced to three consecutive 90-day jail terms and $1,000 in fines. The judge stayed the fine and jail time on the condition that he serve a total of 20 days, pay $375 fine and court costs, restitution of $90 and placed Crist on court-supervised probation for two years.

Crist brought the case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which Monday upheld the jury’s verdict, according to court documents.

Crist argued that because the theft of services occurred on the bridge, the district court lacked jurisdiction over the offense.

But the appeals court said that the theft of services occurred on private property within International Falls’ city limits at a booth where a toll is collected to allow access to the bridge to cross into Fort Frances. Therefore, the theft of service occurred within the district court’s jurisdiction.

Further, Crist contends that the bridge crossing did not constitute a theft of service, because state law does not specifically mention tolls.

The appeals court disagreed, ruling services may include labor, transportation services, and other activities that are required by the public. The service was the provision of the use of a private bridge to cross into Canada.

In addition, the court ruled that the district court’s probation requirement that he stay off the International Bridge for two years is appropriate, noting that he may cross into Canada using other ports of entry.