Posted on 01/24/2008 12:08:13 PM PST by MotleyGirl70
A federal grand jury has indicted an Incline Village woman for allegedly hiring a crew to cut down three large pine trees up to a century old on U.S. Forest Service land at Lake Tahoe.
58-year-old Patricia Vincent was indicted by the grand jury in Reno last week on two charges, including theft of government property. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
The three ponderosa pine trees from 80 to 100 years old were growing on a national forest lot the Forest Service had designated as environmentally sensitive as part of a plan to help protect the clarity of Lake Tahoe. The property is across the street from the Incline Village Championship Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior.
The indictment accuses Vincent of hiring a commercial tree removal business in April to cut down the trees to enhance her view. The indictment says the damage exceeded $10,000.
Vincent could not immediately be reached for comment.
Well, it looks like she just significantly raised her property value. I'm sure she'll be very happy with her improved view once she serves her stink in the clink.
The fine should be 250 million for each offense.
Those two butt wipes did not cut down 100 year old trees. But I doubt if you understand the difference.
If she was a judge in Seattle she could get away with it. The judge cut down a whole hill side. The trees were blocking his view. I believe he had to pay $10,000.
That goes on in virginia all the time.
Sheez. You people ever hear of a fire break?
You ever hear of breaking the law?
Not her trees, not on her property, send a clear message and make her pay!
“this tree is nearly 100 years old, and ready for cutting”.
What Do People Do All Day I love that book!
Is it okay if I don't? They weren't her trees and it wasn't her property. Taking something that isn't yours to enrich yourself (a better view is absolutely worth money when you go to sell your home) is stealing. We don't just fine thieves and send them on their way. Taking that which isn't yours is theft. Not to mention destruction of property.
Try to stop focusing on the trees and look at what she did - she unjustly enriched herself
Nah, I really don’t understand twenty to thirty foot trees vs one hundred foot trees. I wonder what the 100 foot trees started out like? Do you think it was 97 foot trees, or perhaps more like 92 foot trees?
Over the last century, there have been countless trees taken down for this purpose or that. Golf course??? Hmmm, I wonder how many hundreds were taken down for that, and how many people went to prison for it.
Three trees? Dang if it isn’t beginning to sound like Al Gore is posting on the forum.
Spot on.
okay. Guess you missed the invisible “/s” tag. ;~)
Oops! Sorry about that. I’m usually pretty good at detecting sarcasm; not this time : (
"There it is. The Griswald family Christmas Tree."
Actually they never got near Utah -— afraid I guess.
They used the Grand Canyon in Arizona as the background for the signing. Grand Staircas-Escalante National Park, UT or whatever.
You’re absolutely right. If I stated they cut down trees in Utah, I was wrong and you are right to point it out.
Thanks for the correction.
If they were on private property it is none of my business, the lady cut down trees not on her property. Try posting about the article, it works better that way.
Folks, my comments here make it seem I don’t care if old growth trees are cut down on government property by someone who shouldn’t have done it.
What would be more accurate would be to say that I don’t share the extent of your reactions to the three trees being cut down.
Should the person be taken to task? Yes, they should. Is a $250k fine for each tree and a ten year sentence for each tree reasoned? IMO it is absurd.
You don’t get ten years for killing people these days, and a fine? Not likley unless a civil trial can be won. Even then $250k per dead person. The perp generally doesn’t have $20 bucks to their name. And if they do, well, you’ve seen how successful the Simpsons have been.
When folks assign more respect to trees than human life, I leave the reservation.
Some of you have been upset at my comments. I hope this sounds more reasoned, even though I’m sure it won’t go all the way toward easing your disagreement with me.
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