LI Man Pleads Guilty To Dumping Hazardous Waste At Psych Center: DA

BRENTWOOD, NY —A Bay Shore man pleaded guilty to dumping hazardous waste and old tires at the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.

Carleton Pulley, 48, pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering public health, safety, or the environment after illegally dumping hazardous waste and old tires at the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center in April 2023, the DA said.

According to the investigation, a New York State Office of Mental Health Police Officer was patrolling the grounds of the psychiatric center when he saw Pulley rolling a tire out of the back of a tractor-trailer in an area closed to the public on April 23, 2023, the DA said.

The officer approached and realized that Pulley had already unloaded multiple tires and other items, including hazardous waste that was stored in multiple large containers, the DA said. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Islip’s HAZMAT Unit responded to the scene to clean up the site and collect evidence.

The DA said officials tested the pollutants and determined they contained hazardous waste including arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead.

According to the DA, cleaning up the waste cost the Town of Islip more than $30,000.

“This defendant illegally disposed of hazardous waste in order to avoid the fees that he would have been required to pay had he disposed of them properly. Thankfully, the damage to the environment was mitigated due to the immediate discovery of the waste by law enforcement and the quick remediation by the Town of Islip and the property owner,” said Tierney. “I would like to remind everyone that, through our Evergreen Initiative, we have significantly increased monetary rewards for anyone who reports illegal dumping activity. I encourage anyone with information to speak up.”

On September 5, 2024, Pulley pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering public health, safety or the environment, a Class D felony, before the Honorable Steven A. Pilweski, the DA said.

As a condition of his plea, Pulley must partake in the DA's Evergreen Initiative, which requires environmental offenders to directly contribute to restoring and protecting Suffolk’s natural areas and ecosystems.

In addition, he's required to accumulate a target number of Green Points, which are accumulated on a set schedule through both extensive community service arrangements and financial penalties and go directly towards improving of Suffolk County’s environment, the DA said.

Pulley’s ultimate prison term can be reduced by the amount of Green Points that he accrues, the DA said.

He is due back in court in February 2025 to check on his progress.

Pulley is being represented by Peter Brill who was not immediately available for comment.