Mary Budenske Pleads Not Guilty To Code Violations

The owner of a Casper food pantry and thrift store is denying charges that she violated zoning codes.

Mary Budenske, the owner of Poverty Resistance, has pleaded not guilty to six fire code violations and has closed the business.

City officials say the violations include allowing people to sleep in the business overnight, devices plugged into electrical outlets dangling from wires, no clear space around electrical panels and faulty fire extinguisher maintenance.

Fire inspectors say they had warned Budenske a number of times of the violations, and then issued the citation when complaints came in about letting homeless people sleep in the business overnight.

Budenske does not own the building, however inspectors say it was her business that caused the violations.

A hearing is set for early April.