Gatewood Charged with Wetland and Dumping Violations
on Pasadena Property

BALTIMORE, MD (January 23, 2008) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that charges have been filed in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County against Askew W. Gatewood Jr. for unlawfully filling a wetland, unlawful dumping, construction without a sediment control plan, and water pollution. The charges allege that in October 2006, Gatewood allowed the shoreline of his Pasadena property to be filled with construction and demolition debris.

If convicted of the water pollution charge, Gatewood could receive a maximum fine of $25,000 and a year in jail. The solid waste count carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a $30,000 fine; the wetlands charge has a maximum $10,000 fine; and the construction without sediment control plan has a maximum penalty of $10,000 and a year in jail. Filing of a criminal information is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland State Police and the Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits. Arraignment has been set for February 11, 2008.