Crime

Stradivarius violin theft suspect in Wis. pleads not guilty

/ CBS/AP

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man accused in last month's theft of a $5 million Stradivarius violin has pleaded not guilty.

Online court records say Salah Salahadyn entered the plea Monday after waiving his preliminary hearing.

The 41-year-old is charged with being a party to robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Public defender Alejandro Lockwood declined to comment afterward.

Salahadyn and 36-year-old Universal K. Allah are both charged in the theft of the rare instrument. A 300-year-old Stradivarius was stolen from a Milwaukee concertmaster in a stun-gun attack Jan. 27, but police recovered the instrument in good condition nine days later.

Salahadyn served five years for a previous conviction for art theft. Prosecutors say he'd been plotting for a while to steal a Stradivarius.

First published on February 18, 2014 / 9:21 AM EST

© 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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