VALMEYER — Tim Cowell almost thought the massive hole in his cornfield was a sign from outer space.

Reports of mysterious crop circles trampled into fields around the world have appeared in newspapers and on television, and was once the focus of famed Hollywood director M. Night Shyamalan.

Although many have attributed the phenomenon to supernatural causes, Cowell knew better. An eyewitness indicated this hijinks was perpetrated by youths, not spaceships or little green men.

A neighbor spotted a truck fleeing Cowell's cornfield near Valmeyer one summer day.

"Corn and dirt was hanging off all over it," Cowell said the neighbor reported.

Cowell, of Prairie du Rocher, arrived at the field — near B Road and Baer Road in Monroe County — and walked through a path of smashed corn. He followed the path to a large opening in the middle of the field.

"It was a huge crop circle," Cowell said. "And then a series of mazes branched off from the circle. It looked like a spider web."

The neighbor had the truck's license plate number. Cowell called the police. His lonely green cornfield was now a crime scene.

Monroe County Sheriff Daniel Kelley said the license plate number led to a pickup, which led to a group of youths.

"I don't know what they were thinking," Kelley said. "It's just one of those crazy things."

Kelley said the truck drove through the field and smashed the corn. That occasionally happens in rural parts of Monroe County, "But nothing to this degree," said Kelley.

In 2006, 13 crop circles, varying in diameter from 15 feet to 50 feet, were visible in a soybean field near Belleville in nearby St. Clair County. The cause was never identified.

An aerial photo taken by one of Cowell's friends showed a large, imperfect circle with zigzags of connected pathways.

Cowell said he is out about $10,000 from property damage and crop loss.

"My insurance doesn't cover this," he said.

Cowell said GPS technology measured the large circle at about 3 acres. An additional 4 acres were covered with mazes.

A preliminary hearing is set next month for John A. Wuelling, 20, of Valmeyer, one of the four who have been charged with felonies in connection with the damage.

The remaining three were charged as juveniles, so their names have not been released.

Wuelling has pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal damage to property. He could not be reached for comment.

His lawyer, Dennis Field, was out of the office Tuesday, according to his secretary.

Cowell is puzzled about why his field was the target. "They don't know me from Adam," he said.

Regardless, the stunt took time.

"I'm told they were here on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Cowell said.

But he added that the joke may be on the owner of the small pickup that blazed through his cornfield.

"I bet it tore the hell out of that vehicle," Cowell said.