Two men arrested for illegal cut on state forest
12:38 p.m.
Toolbox
Staff Report - Published: August 3, 2007
WATERBURY - Vermont State Game Wardens have arrested two men for the destruction of state property, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and five years in jail, the Fish and Wildlife Department announced today.
Paul G. Poulin, age 47, of Derby, and Alan B. Ritter, age 46, of North Troy, were cited into Orleans District Court to answer to the alleged charges.
In late July, State Game Warden Sgt. Brad Mann and Warden Mark Schichtle, following up on a complaint from members of the Green Mountain Club, located a forest cut approximately 60 feet wide and three-quarter of a mile long near the top of Big Jay Mountain within Jay State Forest in the Town of Westfield. Jay State Forest contains unique forest habitat above 3,000 feet in elevation, including breeding habitat for the endangered Bicknell’s Thrush and slow-growing trees, some over 90 years old.
The men allegedly cut the swath down the very steep slope with the intention of using it for back country downhill skiing, the department said in a press release.
22