CARROLL COUNTY FARM OWNER CHARGED WITH WATER POLLUTION AND ILLEGAL DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Carroll L. Schisler, Sr., 60, of 2546 Marston Road, New Windsor, Maryland has been charged in the Circuit Court for Carroll County with illegally discharging a pollutant into waters of the State and with illegally allowing the disposal of solid waste on his farm located at 2546 Marston Road. The charges allege that Schisler violated the State’s water pollution and littering laws on March 8, 2006 and on April 1, 2006. It is alleged that the water pollution resulted from dead and decomposing animals and from waste and wastewater. It is further alleged that Schisler allowed the disposal of litter consisting of dead animals, discarded vehicles and five gallon buckets in amounts exceeding 500 pounds.

If convicted of water pollution, Schisler could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and/or fined $25,000 for each offense date. Littering in an amount exceeding $500 pounds carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $30,000. 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 with the assistance of the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and the Carroll County Health Department.