CONTRACTOR CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL MINING.Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer SUN VALLEY -- A Sylmar contractor who had excavated rock and gravel gravel, particles of rock, i.e., stones and pebbles, usually round in form and intermediate in size between sand grains and boulders. Gravel is composed of various kinds of rock, the most common constituent being the mineral quartz. for more than a year in order to build six homes has been charged with illegal surface mining. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo Rockard John "Rocky" Delgadillo (born July 15 1960) is the current City Attorney of Los Angeles, California. Career
Also charged were Forum Engineering & Construction, Inc., of Sylmar; Forum Sand, Gravel & Rock, Inc.; and job site supervisor Shawn McConnell. Each count carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. If found guilty, Zemach and McConnell could serve up to 15 1/2 years in jail. An arraignment A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted is scheduled for Dec. 20. Forum officials did not answer phone calls late Monday. Zemach has insisted in interviews with the Daily News that he has never sold rock or operated a mine. Instead, he said, he was replacing 14 feet of river rock with clean, compacted earth. ``We hope he's penalized pe·nal·ize tr.v. pe·nal·ized, pe·nal·iz·ing, pe·nal·iz·es 1. To subject to a penalty, especially for infringement of a law or official regulation. See Synonyms at punish. 2. appropriately because of his blatant disregard for his neighbors while trying to make a quick buck,'' said City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan. In August 2004, Zemach's businesses began excavating the corner of Wentworth Street and Wealtha Avenue in Sun Valley to build six $1 million homes. After attaining grading permits, the companies brought in heavy rock crushing crushing deaths of newborn animals, especially those in litters, caused by the mother lying on them accidentally. Contributed to by weakness of the neonate or awkward accommodation. A problem in piglets and puppies. Called also overlying. equipment and dug deeper than the permits allowed while sorting soil and large piles piles: see hemorrhoids. of gravel and rock, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the City Attorney's office After neighbors complained of noise and dust, city inspectors ordered Zemach to comply with the original permits. Two months later, inspectors allegedly observed trucks being filled with material and driven offsite. They later found copies of more than $50,000 in invoices for sand and gravel sold by Forum Sand, Gravel & Rock. dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3730 |
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