Two of the individuals accused of being responsible for a huge trash dumping site near Shuler Creek plead guilty in federal court in Chattanooga Tuesday, August 17, according to Polk County Executive Robby Hatcher.
The site was discovered in January of this year just off Highway 68 between Farner and the Monroe County line.
Brylan Brendle, of 273 Duggan Road, Farner, Tennessee, and Kassandra Smith, of 125 Mountain View Road, McCaysville, both plead guilty and accepted responsibility for their actions, Hatcher said.
Brendle, who is the person who dumped the trash in Polk County near the headwater of the Hiwassee River, received 200 hours of community service and a $500 fine for littering, leaving refuse in exposed unsanitary conditions, and placing a substance in or near a stream or river.
Smith, whose trash was dumped by Brendle, received 80 hours of community service and a $250 fine for littering, leaving refuse in exposed unsanitary conditions, and placing a substance in or near a stream or river.
Hatcher was pleased with the outcome of the case and said, “I think the community service hours will be more important than paying a larger fine.”
Brendle and Smith will have to complete their community service hours in Polk County, and they will have six months to fulfill their obligations to the court and county.
Hatcher said that Brendle and Smith will do their community service in conjunction with himself and Tennessee Liter Grant Director for Polk County William Wallace and that thanks to Ken Seymour who is a law enforcement officer with the National Forest Service, the pursuit and resolution of this case has set a precedent that the National Forest Service and Polk County take illegal dumping and littering seriously.
If you witness any illegal littering or dumping in Polk County, call Hatcher’s office at 423-338-4527.