SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) -- Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Thursday the successful prosecution of the operator of a Snohomish County septic service company who allegedly dumped more than 6,000 gallons of sewage illegally.
Ronald Stansberry, the operator of Camano Septic Service, allegedly dumped an estimated 6,000 gallons of septic waste between October and November on a Stanwood private property over three separate occasions.
On June 5, Stansberry pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful dumping of solid waste and one count of second degree criminal trespassing.
"Enforcing state laws to ensure the health and safety of our citizens and our environment is one of my main priorities," Ferguson said in a statement. "Polluters need to know they can be held criminally liable for breaking our laws."
Stansberry's 364-day jail sentence was suspended for 24 months on the condition that he obtains all required licenses and permits, follows the law, pays full restitution to the property owner and pays an additional $643 in legal financial obligations.
Ferguson's office is making environmental crime prosecution a top priority by developing an environmental crimes prosecution program within the office's Criminal Litigation Unit.
The attorney general also is working with state and federal agencies to more effectively prosecute environmental crimes.