The man accused in the 2001 murder of a Webster County woman entered a plea of not guilty on Monday. Fifty-year-old Mark Anthony Wilson is charged in the death of Joni L. Manning at her home near Clare.

The attorney for Wilson, Susan Flander of the Mason City Public Defender’s Office, filed the written arraignment with the Webster County Clerk of Court Office in Fort Dodge on Monday.

Flander was appointed to represent Wilson after James Koll of the Fort Dodge Public Defender’s Office withdrew from the case due to a growing case load in his office.

Wilson returned to Iowa on August 28th after surrendering to California authorities. Wilson is also facing charges of theft and forgery. A pretrial conference is now set for October 26th in Fort Dodge.

Submitted by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City