Florida federal court judge sentences Utah chemical company owner to 20 years in jail for illegally dumping pollutants into Salt Lake City area sewers. Former Cottonwood Heights man guilty of environmental crimes and aiming assault rifle at law enforcement officials.
Utah hazardous waste regulations violations-Federal court judge sentences Utah man to 20 years for violating Clean Water Act and threatening EPA agents.
Salt Lake City, UT–Larkin Baggett a former Salt Lake City, Utah man, was sentenced to 20 years in jail by U.S. District Court Judge, Kevin Michael Moore, in Key West, Florida, after he was found guilty of violating federal clean water and hazardous waste regulations. The EPA fugitive who aimed an assault rifle at EPA agents was found guilty and sentenced for that crime too. Baggett was discovered by five federal officers with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov in an abandoned marina trailer in the Florida Keys on March 10, 2009. Baggett, who was placed on the ‘Most Wanted’ list in April 2008, the EPA’s first ever Fugitive List, suffered gun shot wounds to the face and buttocks. Bagget was shot by federal agents after he aimed an assault rifle at the law officers. This was the first time EPA enforcement officers had to fire on a suspect. The agents discovered the assault weapon was loaded with hollow tipped “cop killer” bullets, and Baggett was found to have about 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
According to an announcement made by the Compliance and Enforcement Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov, the 54 year old convicted Baggett violated the Clean Water Act by dumping numerous chemicals, classified as pollutants, onto the ground and into a drain which led to a treatment plant of the South Davis Sewer Improvement District. The violations occurred between October 2004 and April 2005 and effected the West Bountiful treatment facility which is permitted to empty into the Jordan River which leads to the Great Salt Lake. Baggett owned and operated a company that mixed and sold products used by trucking, construction, and concrete industries called Chemical Consultants, Inc., in North Salt Lake City. As owner of the chemical company he repeatedly ordered workers to dump industrial wastes onto the ground and into a sanitary sewer drain. The EPA is pleased with the conviction and sentencing and believes their dedicated agents help bring to justice companies, corporations, and people who place illegal gain ahead of public and environmental health and safety.
Utah government lawyer information by legal news reporter Heather L. Ryan.