Two of the three young men charged with the alleged mugging of a downtown business owner in December pleaded not guilty in Freeborn County District Court on Tuesday to their charges.

Michael Van Haas, 20, and Shepperd Lawrence Robins-Priestley, 19, both of Albert Lea, pleaded not guilty to charges of simple robbery and aiding and abetting in simple robbery in connection to the mugging of the owner of Adams Originals, 238 S. Broadway Ave.

Court documents say the owner was working alone Dec. 30 when the three men reportedly walked in the store and began looking around.

The owner reportedly walked up to one of the young men and asked if she could help them when that young man “grabbed her, pulled her forward, frightening her” and then reached into her side pocket and pulled out her checkbook, documents continue.

The men fled after the incident and were later found by police

in a truck one house away from the Haas residence on Water Street.

Prosecutors are alleging Adam Haas, 18, the younger brother of Michael Haas, is the actual perpetrator, while Michael Haas and Robins-Priestley reportedly aided and abetted.

The checkbook was later found in the truck.

In court on Tuesday, the lawyer for Adam Haas, Stephen Erickson, asked for a contested hearing within 28 days for his client. He has not yet entered a plea.

The lawyers for Michael Haas and Robins-Priestley, Kevin Riha and Evan Larson respectively, requested speedy jury trials for their clients. The trials are expected to be two to three days each.

Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab on Tuesday also ordered no change in bail for the three men. Each are being held on $100,000 bail without conditions or $50,000 with conditions.