Men pay restitution for lean-to vandalism

OLD FORGE — Two Lewis County men last week paid fines and restitution after admitting to vandalizing a lean-to in May in the remote Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the Adirondack Park.

Shawn Roggie, 38, Soft Maple Road, Croghan, pleaded guilty Sept. 22 in Webb Town Court to fourth-degree criminal mischief, amended from third-degree criminal mischief, according to state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 6 spokesman Stephen W. Litwhiler. The plea also satisfied charges of depositing waste on state land and destroying any sign, structure or barrier.

David Lambert, 44, Route 812, Lowville, pleaded guilty to violating environmental conservation law by depositing waste on state land, also satisfying a criminal facilitation charge.

Mr. Roggie paid a $1,000 fine and $1,167.91 restitution, while Mr. Lambert paid a $250 fine, Mr. Litwhiler said. Both men also were required to surrender their pistols to the Lewis County Sheriff's Department, and their pistol permits were revoked pending a hearing, he said.

Mr. Roggie was accused of using Mr. Lambert's handgun to shoot multiple holes in the roof of a lean-to at Cage Lake in northern Herkimer County, then climbing onto it and ripping off shingles. DEC staff also found dozens of beer cans discarded in the vicinity and the nearby outhouse tipped over.

The two were camping and fishing with friends in May when the vandalism occurred, according to DEC officials.

Repairs to the lean-to, which offers campers protection in bad weather, were completed over the summer by DEC staff, Mr. Litwhiler said. Owing to the remote location, materials for the lean-to had to be carried more than four miles into the wilderness area.

Herkimer County Assistant District Attorney James J. Franchi prosecuted the case, Mr. Litwhiler said.