Glendale Man Guilty of Dumping Asbestos

A jury found a Glendale man guilty Wednesday of illegally dumping more than 350 bags of asbestos in the Sand Canyon area of Canyon Country in 1986.

Wesley Mitchell Burnett, 33, was convicted by a San Fernando Superior Court jury of two counts of illegally disposing and one count of illegally transporting hazardous material. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in prison when he is sentenced May 28 by Judge William A. MacLaughlin.

Burnett’s father, Earl Jacob (John) Burnett, 59, of Canyon Country, was also originally charged with one count of illegally disposing of hazardous material. Last week, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor illegal disposing of hazardous material.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Brodney of the district attorney’s environmental crime division said he agreed to the plea bargain with the elder Burnett because the father was not as involved as the son.

The elder Burnett is also scheduled to be sentenced May. 28. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a $100,000 fine. Brodney said only a fine is likely to be imposed. Under the original felony charge, he faced up to three years in prison if convicted.

Both Burnetts are free on bail pending sentencing.

The younger Burnett’s attorney, Martin R. Gladstein, said he was disappointed with the verdict. His client deserves probation, Gladstein said.

Prosecutors said the Burnetts dumped the hazardous material between June and December, 1986, on property once owned by the elder Burnett at Warmuth Road and Rolling Hills Avenue.