Father, son fined $30,000 for cutting down U.S. trees

Star Tribune

Last update: February 7, 2008 - 7:23 PM

A father and son from Itasca County who cut down trees in the northeast corner of the Chippewa National Forest in the fall of 2006 were placed on two years of probation Thurday and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.

Arvid C. Bourman and Arvid C. Bourman Jr., both of Spring Lake, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of cutting or injuring basswood and birch trees. In exchange for the plea, Chief U.S. District Judge James Rosenbaum dismissed two related counts, removing or transporting timber from U.S. public lands and theft of government property.

Rosenbaum said the Bourmans would be held jointly and severally liable for the fine, which means that if one doesn't pay his share, the other must do so.

DAN BROWNING

Recent Local + Metro stories

Lakeville clinic sued for alleged fraud - February 7, 2008

Lakeville clinic sued for alleged fraud - The state is suing a Lakeville chiropractic clinic and its owner alleging that they fraudulently enrolled patients in health-care credit card accounts. More