Excerpt:
The Waite Park man who put up anti-Muslim cartoons in St. Cloud faces lower fines if he is found to have violated a city ordinance barring postings on utility poles.
The city reduced the potential fines to $100 from $250 for each of two counts. That change came at the end of an administrative hearing Thursday.
Sidney Elyea acknowledges he posted anti-Muslim posters near a Somali clothing store and the Islamic Center. He is arguing the city is prosecuting him because of what the posters said and that he is the victim of selective prosecution.
Administrative hearing officer Russell Cherne, a St. Cloud-based lawyer, has until the end of August to reach a decision. The city attorney and defense have several weeks each to submit written closing arguments.