A Puyallup man who climbed Mount Rainier last year, has pleaded not guilty to charges he took $366,000 from the state in fraudulent workers' compensation claims.

Christopher Briejer was arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday. Prosecutors say he misrepresented claims to the state Department of Labor and Industries over four years.

The state says Briejer received $258,995 for time-loss compensation, $75,295 in medical services and $31,651 for vocational retraining.

But Briejer tells The News Tribune that the claims by the state are wrong. A retired carpenter, Briejer says he has a permanent back injury.

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He says he tries to stay in shape and last climbed Mount Rainier in 2008 saying, "it doesn't take a back to climb a mountain, it takes legs."

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Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com