Man, 60, Sentenced in Felony Asbestos Case

A man believed to be the first person in the nation convicted of a felony for illegally disposing of asbestos hazardous waste was sentenced Wednesday in Los Angeles to six months in jail and fined $51,000.

However, the jail term imposed on Stanley E. Steves, 60, owner of two salvage companies in Montebello, was stayed pending the outcome of his appeal, and he was allowed to remain free.

Steves was also ordered by Superior Court Judge Judith Chirlin to pay an additional $6,199 to the county Department of Sanitation, which conducted a laboratory analysis of the asbestos and other hazardous wastes found on the grounds of his two companies.

The judge additionally placed Steves, of Whittier, on five years probation.

Deputy Dist. Atty. William Carter said Steves could have been sentenced to three years in state prison and fined up to $125,000.

Steves was convicted in April of one felony count each of illegal disposal of hazardous asbestos and illegal disposal of hazardous waste, and two misdemeanor counts of illegal storage of hazardous waste.

Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said he believes the case is the first felony conviction in the nation for illegal disposal of asbestos hazardous waste.

Carter said investigators in April, 1986, found chopped-up insulation saturated with asbestos in the ground and in a dumpster at the Montebello site of Steves’ two salvage companies, California Industrial Movers Inc. and Industrial Salvage Corp.

Employees had previously questioned whether it was asbestos they were cutting up, but Steves told them not to worry, Carter said.