MASON CITY – A Mason City man is facing a felony charge of criminal mischief after damaging trees owned by the city in front of his house.
Robert Willemsen, age 63 of Mason City, is accused of “girdling” three trees located on the parking in front of his residence (between the sidewalk and the street) at 1025 Briarstone Drive before August 12, 2015. The three trees are city-owned and Willemsen is alleged to have girdled the 3 trees without permission or authority.
Girdling is a deep cut around entire trunk circumference, which effectively will kill the trees.
Cost to remove and replace the three trees is estimated around $1,650. Willemsen was cited and released on October 24, 2015 for Second Degree Criminal Mischief, a class “D” felony.
Willemsen has retained attorney Joseph Lapointe. No court date has been set, yet.
This guy looks pretty rough. I’m sure it’s not his first run in with the law. Maybe they will put him in charge of the prison arboreum.
The city should be ashamed putting a citizen through this, how ridiculous, with the trash in yards take a drive by 1708 4th SW across from McDonalds why don”t they do something about that!!! Sure a eye sore driving into Mason City.
The trees aren’t dead. The whole story is not printed here. When it comes out, the newspapers and the City of Mason City is going to owe this life-time resident a huge apology at the very least. Some pertinent questions: who paid to put the trees in? Why did he girdle them? With Bob’s love of trees and plant-life, there has to be a reason for his actions. How much has this long-time business man given back to the City over the years? I wonder if that will continue…..
Girdling trees is when you give the tree an extra tight hug. Also known as a tree hugging snuggie.
I don’t always girdle trees, but when I do I girdle city owned trees.
Look at all those leafs in the yard I really don’t blame him. Maybe the city should provide the bags
Maybe the city should supply the bags and the labor.
Clearly something has happened to Bob..have known him for over 40 years..his picture doesn’t even look like him.. Hope he is OK!
Did he plant these? If they are his trees what’s the big deal?? Just maybe he’s tired of all the leaves ecer think of that!
@Bookie-I agree with you on this. He probably is tired of cleaning up the city’s leaves. I know how he feels. So far this year we have filled 35 leaf bags and the neighbors have done none and the city’s trees are still dropping. I feel the same way about the city’s sidewalks. Why do we have to shovel when the wealthy have no sidewalks. Everyone walks in the damn street anyway.
Sounds like a pity party on the North End.
Who asked you Troll. It is a sure bet you never cleaned up a yard in your whole life. You are probably one of those jerks that lets his leaves blow into other people’s yard so they can do your work for you.
he might have thought they were maple? looking for surup I think
As a business man in this town, what was he thinking. Hopefully he has to pay for the removal and replacement. $1650. doesn’t seem enough. Get an estimate from Cutting Edge, then he might think twice before destroying public property.
Cutting Edge est.they are way out of line on prices to cut trees, had them trim a tree it died 2mths later.There est would of be alot higher than that.Pd 1100 to trim now having another tree co.cut whole tree down and take wood for 450.Talk about a rip off there is you example.
That was my point, cutting edge is expensive, but Kevin says, they do good work to justify the cost.
Girdled trees are better than Christmas trees.
90% of the chicks in this town need to be girdled. Just stroll thru Walmart and see all the behemoths! Oink Oink.
Why would he do this?
Charge all homeowners that mow the grass in the parking with violations of RICO on-going criminal enterprise – destruction of city owned grass.