Attorney General Van Hollen Announces Criminal Convictions in Polk County Pond Fill Case

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today announced that Steven D. Hanson has been found guilty of two criminal counts of depositing fill on the bed of a navigable water, a pond adjacent to Horseshoe Lake.  Polk County Circuit Court Judge Molly GaleWyrick sentenced Hanson to five days in jail and fines totaling $2,740 for his unlawful activities. 

Hanson removed a hill and trucked in rocks to fill in a 1/3-acre pond located on his property in Polk  County.  After neighbors complained, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted an investigation and asked Hanson to remove the illegal fill.  Hanson refused to cooperate with the DNR who referred the matter to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) for prosecution.  Hanson was named as a defendant in the criminal case and in a companion civil enforcement action for these violations of environmental protection laws.  The civil case is still pending. 

After referral to the DOJ, Hanson eventually removed the illegal fill.   

Assistant Attorney General Mary Batt represented the State.