BENNINGTON — A Farley Drive man was charged with a felony Monday after police said they believed he broke a wooden sign on Elm Street on Feb. 1 that cost nearly $2,400 to replace.

Matthew Bortell, 27, of Bennington, pleaded innocent in Bennington criminal court to a felony count of unlawful mischief resulting in more than $1,000 in damage.

In an affidavit, Officer Thalia Hudson, of the Bennington Police Department, said she was dispatched about 2:45 a.m. Feb. 1 to Elm Street. At the scene, Hudson spoke to a woman who said she had heard the sign for “Edwards Investments” being broken and saw two men leaving the area.

Hudson said Bortell was spotted on Main Street a short time later. While Bortell admitted to being on Elm Street earlier in the morning with another man, Hudson said he wouldn’t give police a last name or address for the other man and denied breaking the sign.

Staff at Edwards Investment gave police an estimate of $2,390.46 to replace the sign.

Bortell has a previous conviction for unlawful mischief resulting in more than $1,000 damage from November 2009.