ANNE ARUNDEL MAN AND COMPANY CHARGED WITH SEDIMENT CONTROL VIOLATIONS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that David C. Riggs, Jr., 37, of Anne Arundel County and The Lothian Trading Post, Inc., a Maryland corporation, both of 231 Marlboro Road, Lothian, were charged, separately, in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County with sediment control violations and littering.

The charging documents allege that the defendants violated the State's sediment control and littering laws from March 1, 2003 through April 23, 2003 by littering in an amount exceeding 216 cubic feet, and by beginning construction prior to the approval of a proposed earth change and sediment control plan. The illegal activity is alleged to have occurred at the Three Rivers Sportsmen’s Club located at 215 Three Rivers Road in Anne Arundel County.

In addition, Three Rivers Sportsmen, Inc. was charged March 16 in connection with this same incident.

The maximum penalty for the sediment control charges is up to one year imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the littering charges is up to five years imprisonment and/or a $25,000 fine. The filing of charges is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and anyone charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland State Police.

A trial date has not yet been set.

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