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Their first mistake was dumping a truckload of trash in the protected Long Island Pine Barrens. The two defendants’ second misstep was leaving behind identifying information in the pile.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Monday that Charles Weiss, 32, of Coram, and Marvin Sandoval, 28, of Ronkonkoma, were arrested for allegedly violating Suffolk’s relatively new Evergreen Law.
The initiative, launched a year ago, focuses on curbing illegal dumping through stricter enforcement, harsher fines and public reporting incentives to protect environmentally sensitive areas like the Pine Barrens.
Authorities said Weiss and Sandoval loaded up a U-Haul box truck with construction and household waste on Nov. 6, and then dumped it in a remote wooded area of the Pine Barrens, a vital but fragile ecosystem. The debris included furniture, paint cans, styrofoam, a granite countertop and household trash.
The case broke open thanks to two civilian witnesses who sifted through the rubbish for identifying information and alerted law enforcement, authorities said. A joint investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Park Rangers and the Town of Riverhead Police Department soon identified the suspects.
Officials said the pair had been paid $1,000 to clean a home, and chose the Pine Barrens as their dump site. The
maximum fines for dumping in the Pine Barrens Region is now $15,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations.
Tierney emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Pine Barrens.
“The Long Island Pine Barrens are necessary to the health of our ecosystem, but at the same time, is incredibly fragile,” he said. “I am fully committed to preserving our natural heritage and will take any and all actions necessary to deter and defend against pollution.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine added that “Any person who is caught dumping trash or any other debris in our county parks will face the full strength of the law.”
Top photo: Pine Barrens (Facebook)
