GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. -- In 2002, the Stowells put up a fence in between their home and their neighbors, the Lashbrooks.

"There's never no privacy over here and it's been so much better since we did put the fence up. And I would, hopefully, we would have thought it would have been privacy for them as well as us, but it's been a long dispute," said Lorraine Stowell, a resident of Gouverneur.

Wayne Lashbrooks says the fence is on his property and has been trying to get it taken down ever since.

"I've gone through two boards, two mayors and two code enforcers and nobody's doing nothin'," said Lashbrooks.

Lashbrooks says he refused to pay a lawyer to get involved and so after making unsuccessful complaints to the Village, he took matters into his own hands.

"I've been telling people for years, that when I get around to it, if they don't do nothin', I'm gonna do it," said Lashbrooks.

So he tore down a 30-foot section of the fence he says is on his property. And when the Stowells found out, they called the police.

"It'll have to go through the court system now and it'll be taken care of. You just don't go about cutting down other people's property," said Stowell.

The Stowells got an estimate of the repair costs for the fence totaling $5,000, so Lashbrooks faces a felony charge of criminal mischief. But he says he's just glad the fence is down.

"I'd do it again, ‘cause I know I'm right," Lashbrooks said.

Lashbrooks will make an appearance in court in early January. He says he stands by his decision and is prepared to face any consequences ahead.

The Code Enforcement Officer for the Village of Gouverneur was unavailable for comment.