Washington County Jury Convicts Brookfield Man and His Corporation of Illegally Storing Hazardous Waste

BROOKFIELD - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that on August 26, 2009, a Washington County jury convicted Dale Knutson of Brookfield and his corporation, CAAP,  Inc., of illegally storing hazardous waste on his property in the Town of Erin in Washington County.  Knutson was also convicted of two counts of obstructing for giving false information to Washington County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Mass and DNR Environmental Warden Jenny Gibson.  The jury's verdicts acquitted Knutson and CAAP, Inc. of illegally transporting and disposing of hazardous waste.

The case charged that Knutson and CAAP, Inc. between October 12, 2004, and October 19, 2005, stored a hazardous waste, phosphoric acid with a pH of less than 2 S.U. in a van at Knutson's property without a hazardous waste storage license.  The violation was discovered by Washington County Deputies as they investigated a suspicious vehicle complaint.  The DNR was called in and continued the investigation.  The obstructing charges arose from Knutson giving false information to law enforcement during their investigation.

Illegally storing hazardous waste is a felony and sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2009 before the Honorable David C. Resheske, Washington County Circuit Court.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Diane Milligan and Steven Tinker.