PALMER -- A Chickaloon man is facing charges of criminal mischief, theft and oil pollution after prosecutors say he took a fuel oil tank from a home being demolished in Sutton and spilled 150 gallons of diesel fuel.
According to Dan Cheyette of the state Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals, Herbert Lee Fey, 65, of Chickaloon, pulled the 300-gallon tank from a home at Mile 68.4 that the Matanuska-Susitna Borough purchased in order to demolish for erosion control.
Fey did not return a message seeking comment.
The borough discovered the diesel spill April 15 when a company arrived to inspect the site and create a plan for demolishing the home near the Matanuska River, according to news reports at the time.
The home in question was bought from Daniel and Sun Pinkel as part of a federally funded land buyback program.
In May the borough said the spill was cleaned up and awaiting analysis before it was covered with dirt.
Cheyette said three houses were slated for demolition.
When word got out, Fey "just went and helped himself to a bunch of stuff, including this fuel oil tank," Cheyette said.
Fey also made off with firewood the borough has since seized and used in its campgrounds, Cheyette said. Alaska state troopers seized the fuel oil tank, Cheyette said. He's not sure where it's stored.
"The real thing is that all this got dumped on the ground and now the borough's got to clean it up," Cheyette said. "So it's a huge loss for the taxpayers."
He said the borough will seek restitution at trial and estimates the cost of cleanup at $60,000.
Cheyette charged Fey Aug. 30 with third-degree theft and criminal mischief, pollution, oil pollution and failure to report a hazardous substance discharge.
Court records show Fey was issued a summons to appear in court rather than arrested.
As of last week he had not hired a lawyer, according to court records. The case is set for trial Dec. 3.
Find Andrew Wellner online at adn.com/contact/awellner or call 352-6710.
