The Ontario government is moving to halt illegal aggregate extraction and sales from unlicensed areas.

Pine Valley Developments and President Steven Liedtke admitted guilt for running an unlicensed pit, each receiving a $37,500 fine. With the victim fine surcharge included, the total penalty reached $93,750.

The court was informed that from January 1, 2016, to October 15, 2017, Pine Valley and Liedtke were unlawfully extracting and selling aggregates. Inspectors from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry found the violations during an inspection. Conservation officers used a search warrant to gather evidence during their inquiry.

Justice of the Peace Louise Logue oversaw the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on June 19, 2023, and handed down the sentence on July 10, 2023.

Should you need to report a natural resource issue or give information on an open case, you may call the ministry’s toll-free TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. For additional details on unsolved cases, please go to ontario.ca/mnrftips.