STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — The Meade County Commission has voted to suspend a member who's facing criminal charges.

Alan Aker's fellow commissioners made the decision Tuesday. Commission Chairman Galen Niederwerder said in a statement that the group is following state law and that once the legal matter is settled "we will move forward."

A grand jury has indicted the 52-year-old Aker on a felony charge of intentional damage to property and a misdemeanor count of trespassing. Authorities allege that Aker entered a client's property in Deadwood, sawed off part of a deck railing and took it with him.

Aker maintains he did nothing wrong because he hadn't been fully paid for the job. The property owner maintains the project wasn't complete.

Aker didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on his suspension.

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