CRISFIELD MAN CHARGED WITH WATER POLLUTION IN SECOND COUNTY ON SHORE

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Paul Wayne Adkins, 61, formerly of Hall Highway, in Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland has been charged in Somerset County with water pollution. The charge alleges that Adkins violated the State's water pollution laws on March 31, 2005 by illegally discharging commercial grease directly into Manokin Creek, near 12881 Recycle Drive, outside Princess Anne in Somerset County. Commercial grease is material that is pumped out of grease traps at restaurants and other commercial kitchen facilities.

If convicted of the illegal discharge of a pollutant into waters of the State, Adkins could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and/or fined $50,000. The filing of a criminal information is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and each individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland State Police. Adkins will be arraigned June 30th in the Circuit Court for Somerset County in Princess Anne.

Adkins is presently being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center in regards to similar pollution charges announced by this office yesterday.

#