2 Charged After Dumping U-Haul's Worth Of Garbage In Pine Barrens: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — Two men were arrested and charged after dumping a U-Haul's worth of garbage into the Long Island Pine Barrens, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to the DA, a pile of construction waste and household debris was dumped in a remote wooded area in the protected Pine Barrens Region by Charles Weiss, 32, of Coram, and Marvin Sandoval, 28, of Ronkonkoma. The debris was dumped in the Riverhead Town section of Manorville, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on November 6, Weiss and Sandoval reportedly loaded a U-Haul box truck with the waste and debris and then drove into a remote, wooded area within the Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region where they dumped the contents of the truck onto the forest floor. The materials they reportedly dumped consisted of pieces of wood furniture, used paint cans, paint rollers, shower doors, chandeliers, large pieces of styrofoam, a sink, a granite countertop, tools, and multiple bags of household garbage, Tierney said.

Their actions were uncovered by two civilian witnesses who "had the good conscience and initiative" to sift through the pile for any identifying information and then contact law enforcement, the DA said.

A joint investigation between the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Park Rangers, and the Town of Riverhead Police Department identified Weiss and Sandoval, who had reportedly solicited a job of cleaning up a house for a $1,000 fee and then, instead of proper disposal, allegedly selected the Pine Barrens as their dump site, the DA said.

In December 2023, Tierney, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, and Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, along with leadership of the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Suffolk County Park Rangers, Long Island Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Commission, and Crime Stoppers, announced the Suffolk County Evergreen Initiative — a collaborative plan to curb illegal dumping on county property and within
the Central Pine Barrens Region by ramping up and coordinating enforcement, imposing harsher
fines, and enhancing civilian incentive to report dumpers.

In early 2024, the Suffolk County Legislature amended the Suffolk County code to raise the
maximum fines for dumping in the Pine Barrens Region to $15,000 for individuals and $25,000
for corporations, Tierney said.

In addition, it was mandated that 33 percent of fines collected from convictions under the
statute would be remitted to members of the public who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of offenders, the DA said.

The award was designed to spur the interest and assistance of the public in identifying and preventing illegal dumping in the largely unsurveilled area, Tierney said.

The Evergreen Initiative relies heavily on deterrence and citizen stewardship as a means of protecting an "otherwise vulnerable and voiceless victim," the DA said.

The amendments were signed into law by the county executive and enacted in March.

The Long Island Pine Barrens Region, also referred to as the Long Island Pine Barrens Preserve,
Central Pine Barrens Area, Core Preservation Area or Compatible Growth Area, is Long Island’s
largest natural area and its last remaining wilderness, covering more than 100,000 acres, the DA said.

The Pine Barrens Region overlays and recharges a vast portion of Long Island’s sole-source aquifer. All of Long Island’s drinking water comes from underground wells fed by the aquifer, Tierney said.

The majority of the Carmans River and Peconic River and their watersheds exist within the Pine Barrens.

"The Pine Barrens are a vital stopping point for various species of migratory birds and Long Island’s last undisturbed home to a vast array of local wildlife," the DA said.

The health of all of Long Island is "utterly dependent on the integrity of the Pine Barrens," the DA said.

In recognition of its extreme ecological significance — not just as a wildlife preserve but sole source of drinking water — New York State enacted the Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act in 1990 and, along with it, the Central Pine Barrens joint planning and policy commission.

On November 27, Weiss and Sandoval were each arraigned on charges of violating section 433-7 of the Suffolk County code, or the Evergreen Law, the DA said.

Riverhead Town Justice Court Judge Sean Walter ordered both Weiss and Sandoval released on their own recognizance, TIerney said. Weiss and Sandoval are both due back in court on January 8, 2025.

Weiss is being represented by William Newman and Sandoval is being represented by Robert Strecker; the attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment.

"Last December, I stood with the county executive, sheriff, and other law enforcement partners charged with protecting our environment to announce the Evergreen Initiative," Tierney said. "The Long Island Pine Barrens are necessary to the health of our ecosystem, but at the same time, are incredibly fragile. I am fully committed to preserving our natural heritage and will take any and all actions necessary to deter and defend against pollution."

"Any person who is caught dumping trash or any other debris in our county parks will face the full strength of the law," said Romaine.