Veteran
Posts: 235
| Interesting that they make a big deal about land owners that accidently cut a few trees on the wrong side of the property line. If these guys did $81,000 in damage how much do the Jeepers do every day in the name of fun? How much damage did the Big Elk fire do (not to mention the cost in human lives)? What did they do to the Jeepers that started the Big Elk fire? Nothing. This unfair treatment of land owners makes me ill.
Man given probation for cutting 376 trees
B.J. Plasket
The Daily Times-Call
DENVER — A Jamestown man will serve a year of probation for his role in the August 2003 cutting of 376 trees in the Arapaho National Forest near Jamestown in western Boulder County.
Dean Sapp , 56, will also have to perform 50 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge as part of a plea agreement under which he agreed to cooperate with authorities in the prosecution of others involved in the incident.
U.S. Forest Service Officer Melinda Jones earlier said Sapp — along with neighbors Marshal Fike and Quinter Fike — used heavy equipment to cut down the trees and dig several 20-foot to 30-foot trenches along a road used by off-road enthusiasts in the national forest.
Jones’ report said the three had become frustrated by incursions from off-road vehicles near their rural homes.
U.S. Magistrate Boyd Boland, in sentencing Sapp earlier this month, placed him on one year of unsupervised probation and ordered him to perform 50 hours of community service arranged through the town of Jamestown.
Sapp was not fined and was not ordered to pay restitution for the estimated $81,000 in damage to the land and trees . In an earlier hearing, federal prosecutor James Mackey said, “There are restitution issues, but not necessarily involving Mr. Sapp .”
Forest Service officials said the episode caused $43,000 in damage to trees and $38,000 in damage to the land.
In announcing that Sapp would cooperate in the prosecution of others in the case, Mackey said, “This is an open investigation, and there are other people we think are involved. Mr. Sapp has agreed to cooperate.”
Jeff Dorschner, the spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Suthers, on Wednesday declined to comment on possible additional charges in the case, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Neither Marshal Fike nor Quinter Fike has yet been charged in the incident.
B.J. Plasket can be reached by e-mail at bplasket@times-call.com. |
Hyde Park Forums by www.darkendeavors.com
Jeepers get away with starting fatal fire. Landowner gets convicted for self protection.
