Idaho Man Pleads Guilty To Destruction Of National Forest Land

Admits Willful Injury to Property of the United States

COEUR D’ALENE – Stanley D. Votava, 60, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale to damaging lands within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. This is a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1361 and carries a maximum punishment of up to one year incarceration, and $100,000 fine, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Votava had been hired to remove some trees on private land adjacent to the U.S. Forest. While doing this work, he drove his skidder four times through the Idaho Panhandle National Forest causing damage to the forest estimated at over $7,000.00.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.