Antigovernment Groups Show Interest in Montana Pond-Building Case
Bill Morlin
June 09, 2016
... Joseph David Robertson, a 77-year-old retired construction company owner who has battled the federal government for more than a decade, was convicted in April on two counts of unauthorized discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters and a third count of injury or depredation of federal property ...
In 2007, Robertson was cited by the Forest Service for destroying government property, livestock grazing without a permit and four other charges related to illegal activities on federally owned land. He refused to show up for his trial, but was found guilty in absentia of two counts of damaging federal property and allowing livestock on Forest Service land. He was fined $2,625, the Billings Gazette reported in 2007.
In 2012, Robertson was again charged and convicted of misdemeanors related to violating Forest Service regulations. He avoided jail, was placed on probation and ordered to remove various structures, including a barn, fence and culvert that he had illegally constructed on federally owned land. When a Forest Service special agent went to the property to see if Robertson was complying with the courts order, the officer discovered he had illegally constructed ponds on the land ...
Robertson said he understand the Forest Service intends to drain the ponds he constructed. Ill have some friends up here. I dont think Ill allow them to do that.
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/06/09/antigovernment-groups-show-interest-montana-pond-building-case