Three indicted for dumping violations

The Caldwell County grand jury issued felony grand jury indictments against three individuals last week in connection with an ongoing investigation into environmental violations in rural Caldwell County

Daniel Sanchez, 42, or Dale, Francisco Mendiola, 36 of Dale, and Jorge Mendiola, 29, of Dale, will all face felony charges after a February
local-news/bust-shines-light-on-environmental-crimes/”>raid on several properties near Lytton Springs revealed a number of potential environmental crimes, including the dumping of raw sewage on the ground.

Each indictment against Francisco Mendiola and Jorge Mendiola contain six counts of intentional and knowing unauthorized discharge of a waste or pollutant that is causing or threatens to cause water pollution in or adjacent to waters of the state.

The indictment against Daniel Sanchez consists of three counts of Unauthorized Discharge of a waste or pollutant that is causing or threatens to cause water pollution in or adjacent to waters of the state.

Each felony charge carries a fine of no less than $1,000 nor more than $100,000 and five years in prison. The indictments follow a several month investigation by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department into raw sewage being discharged on the ground, which is causing or threatens to cause pollution in bodies of waters of the state.

The Criminal District Attorney’s Office is working with the Caldwell County Judge’s Office on identifying and investigating environmental hazards that are threatening the ground and surface waters throughout Caldwell County including the unauthorized discharge of raw sewage onto the surface of the ground.

Caldwell District Attorney Trey Hicks and County Judge Tom Bonn have both made it clear that prosecution of environmental crimes that threaten the health, safety and welfare of Caldwell County citizens and their property has become a top priority of their offices.

(Courtesy of Trey Hicks)