RENTON RESIDENT FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW BY BUILDING AND MAINTAINING ILLEGAL DOCK AND BOATLIFT ON LAKE WASHINGTON
CRAIG D. MAGNUSSON, 60, of Renton, Washington was convicted February 12, 2009, following a one day bench trial of violating the federal Rivers and Harbors Act. Magnusson, an attorney, violated the Act by constructing and maintaining a pier, float, boatlift, and catwalk at his home on Lake Washington without obtaining a permit as required by the Act. Judge James L. Robart found Magnusson guilty of the misdemeanor offense and is scheduled to impose a sentence on May 11, 2009. Magnusson faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 criminal fine.
In May 2001, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated an enforcement action against Magnusson. Acting on a complaint from a neighbor, the Army Corps of Engineers, first issued a notice of violation to Magnusson on July 31, 2001, for installing a pier, boat lift, and float in Lake Washington without a permit. After receiving a new complaint from King County in June 2002, and after being provided with photos of the work in April 2003, the Corps issued a second letter directing Magnusson to do no further work and advising him to remove the existing structures or apply for a permit after the fact. The Corps never received a response to the letter. Magnusson never submitted a permit application, or provided evidence that the unpermitted structures had been removed.
Magnusson was indicted July 30, 2008.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Oesterle. Mr. Oesterle heads the United States Attorney’s Office Working Group on Environmental Crimes.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov, or Patricia Graesser, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 206-764-3760.
