Father Fined for Dumping; Son’s Sentencing Delayed
A Canyon Country man was sentenced Friday to two years probation and fined $5,000 for illegally disposing of hazardous material, but sentencing of his son on similar charges was delayed until next month.
Earl Jacob (John) Burnett, 59, pleaded guilty in March in San Fernando Superior Court in return for prosecutors reducing the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Under the original charge, he faced up to three years in prison if convicted.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Brodney said he had agreed to the reduced charge because the elder Burnett was not as involved as his son.
Sentencing was delayed until June 22 for Burnett’s son, Wesley Mitchell Burnett, 33, of Glendale, who was convicted in April on two counts of felony illegal disposal of hazardous material and one count of illegally transporting hazardous material.
The younger Burnett faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in prison.
Brodney, who is with the district attorney’s environmental crimes division, said the Burnetts dumped more than 350 bags of asbestos in the Sand Canyon area of Canyon Country in 1986 on property once owned by the elder Burnett.
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