MARINE CONTRACTOR CONVICTED
OF WETLANDS VIOLATIONS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Scott Howard O’Day, 47, of the 1300 block of Wildwood Beach Road, Essex was convicted Thursday of illegally filling State wetlands after a trial in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County. O’Day, who is a marine contractor, was convicted of illegally filling wetlands along Back River, in Essex, in January 2002.

According to trial testimony, O’Day obtained State approval to replace a bulkhead on his next-door neighbor’s property, as well as a required building permit from Baltimore County. O’Day then replaced the bulkhead on his own residence at the same time. O’Day although having just obtained permits for the work he did for the neighbor, also failed to apply for State or County approvals before completing work on his property. Additionally, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management employees testified that a review of aerial photographs of the shoreline maintained by Baltimore County indicated O’Day had moved parts of the bulkhead forward 10 feet into the river.

The conviction follows a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland State Police, with the assistance of the Baltimore County Department Of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.

The maximum potential sentence is a $1,000 fine, the removal of the bulkhead and restoration of the effected area. Judge G. Darrell Russell set sentencing for July 17, 2003.

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