FROM:
George Kennedy, District Attorney CONTACT PERSON:
Deborah Medved, Deputy District Attorney
Environmental Protection Unit
(408) 792-2732 For Release on December 1, 2003 CRIMINAL GRAND JURY INDICTS GREASE WASTE HAULER AND EMPLOYEES FOR DISCHARGE OF KITCHEN GREASE INTO SEWER AND CREEK Today, Hayward-based A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc. and three of its employees were arraigned after being indicted by the Santa Clara County Criminal Grand Jury for criminal discharge of kitchen grease into a Palo Alto sanitary sewer and Matadero Creek. The Grand Jury also indicted one of the Corporation’s Officers for perjury. A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc.; Mark Hetrick, Jr.; Richard Murillo; and Thomas Medeiros were indicted for violations of the state’s Water Code, Penal Code, and Fish and Game Code arising from their discharge of kitchen grease into Palo Alto’s sanitary sewer on December 3, 2001. The Corporation and its employees were hired to clean Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club’s grease interceptor. The grease from the interceptor was discharged into the sanitary sewer, in violation of state law. The grease inundated the sanitary sewer, dislodged manhole covers and overflowed into nearby Matadero Creek. A vehicle was disabled when it hit one of the dislodged manholes. Approximately 1,000 to 3,000 gallons of kitchen grease was discharged. Vice-President of A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc., Jack Shane III, was indicted for perjury arising from false documents submitted in response to a subpoena by the District Attorney. The employees indicted for the grease discharge could receive up to three years in prison and be fined between $5,000 and $50,000. The corporation could be fined between $5,000 and $50,000. The corporate officer charged with perjury could receive four years in prison.
George Kennedy, District Attorney CONTACT PERSON:
Deborah Medved, Deputy District Attorney
Environmental Protection Unit
(408) 792-2732 For Release on December 1, 2003 CRIMINAL GRAND JURY INDICTS GREASE WASTE HAULER AND EMPLOYEES FOR DISCHARGE OF KITCHEN GREASE INTO SEWER AND CREEK Today, Hayward-based A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc. and three of its employees were arraigned after being indicted by the Santa Clara County Criminal Grand Jury for criminal discharge of kitchen grease into a Palo Alto sanitary sewer and Matadero Creek. The Grand Jury also indicted one of the Corporation’s Officers for perjury. A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc.; Mark Hetrick, Jr.; Richard Murillo; and Thomas Medeiros were indicted for violations of the state’s Water Code, Penal Code, and Fish and Game Code arising from their discharge of kitchen grease into Palo Alto’s sanitary sewer on December 3, 2001. The Corporation and its employees were hired to clean Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club’s grease interceptor. The grease from the interceptor was discharged into the sanitary sewer, in violation of state law. The grease inundated the sanitary sewer, dislodged manhole covers and overflowed into nearby Matadero Creek. A vehicle was disabled when it hit one of the dislodged manholes. Approximately 1,000 to 3,000 gallons of kitchen grease was discharged. Vice-President of A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc., Jack Shane III, was indicted for perjury arising from false documents submitted in response to a subpoena by the District Attorney. The employees indicted for the grease discharge could receive up to three years in prison and be fined between $5,000 and $50,000. The corporation could be fined between $5,000 and $50,000. The corporate officer charged with perjury could receive four years in prison.