California father and son charged over illegal gold mining: ‘This is not 1849’
Charges followed local concerns
District Attorney Sandra Groven told CBS News Sacramento that the father and son were charged in May after a local resident raised concerns about their activities. The defendants were identified as Gregory Arnoldi Jr and his father.
The charges included altering a stream without notifying the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They also faced allegations of mining without a Reclamation Plan or Sierra County Conditional Use Permit, and grading without a permit.
Road and property damage
Groven said the mining scheme damaged private and public property, natural resources and mining artifacts. She described the environmental damage as extensive and said the county prosecutes reported cases when there is sufficient evidence.
Sentence includes restoration costs
Arnoldi Jr and his father were each sentenced to 30 days in county jail and fined $8,135. They must also establish a restoration plan for the areas they damaged.
The pair must cover the related costs of permitting, design and construction. Groven said enforcement can be difficult in a small county with extensive remote public lands.
Gold Rush history in county
Sierra County was a center of mining during the California Gold Rush. About 16,000 miners arrived there between 1848 and 1860. Groven said the case involved damage to the environment and public and private property. She emphasized that the Gold Rush era does not excuse present-day illegal mining.
Key points
- The father and son each received 30 days in county jail and an $8,135 fine.
- They must create a restoration plan and pay associated permitting, design and construction costs.
- Charges included stream alteration, mining without required plans or permits, and unpermitted grading.
- About 16,000 miners came to Sierra County between 1848 and 1860.