BALTIMORE CITY COMPANY CHARGED WITH WATER POLLUTION

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that New Faces, Inc., a home improvement company located at 921 North Binney Street, Baltimore, was charged in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City with water pollution. The charge alleges that New Faces violated the State's water pollution laws on February 25, 2003 by illegally discharging lead paint-laden wastewater into waters of the State. The discharge is alleged to have occurred on the 500 block of South Rose Street in Baltimore City.

The Attorney General announced on January 22 that two Baltimore City brothers, Sherman and Tommy Knuckles, were charged for their alleged actions arising out of this same water pollution incident.

If convicted of the charge, New Faces could be fined up to $25,000. The filing of charges is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and anyone charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This charge follows a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Baltimore City Police Department, with the assistance of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works-Pollution Control Section.

Trial has been set for February 10, 2004 in Baltimore City.

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