A roofing contractor in Central Louisiana pleaded guilty earlier this week to two counts of illegally disposing of hazardous waste materials by burning them, including asbestos shingles he removed from renovation jobs his company had completed.

According to an article in The Town Talk, Walter Monroe Smith, who is the owner of Rapides Roofing and Home Repair, ordered his employees to burn asbestos-containing roofing shingles at a property he owns in Deville, Louisiana. This particular incident occurred in 2009, notes a news release by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

After being charged in the 2009 incident, however, Smith proceeded to do the same thing less than a year later, instructing employees to burn not only additional asbestos roof shingles but also tire rims, plastic products, and other hazardous solid waste. This was done at the same location in Deville, notes the DEQ report. After this particular incident, Smith was arrested and charged with illegally disposing of toxic waste, a violation of the federal Clean Air Act.

This week, in the 9th Judicial District Court of Louisiana, Smith’s guilty plea was accepted and he was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison – which was suspended – and three years probation. He must also pay a fine of $3,000; $2000 to the DEQ for the cost of the investigation and $1000 to the DA’s office to cover court costs. He was also ordered to publish a public apology in the local newspaper.

“There are a few business owners in the state who choose to skirt environmental and health laws by disposing of waste in an illegal and improper fashion,” stated Peggy Hatch, secretary of the DEQ. “DEQ’s mission is to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone found to be in violation of the very laws that have been put in place to protect human life and the environment.”

Due to Smith’s actions, there is considerable concern that his employees as well as others who live in the area of his Deville property may have been exposed to asbestos dust and may have inhaled sharp asbestos fibers, which can lead to the formation of cancerous tumors and a diagnosis of the disease known as mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma has a long latency period, those exposed may not detect symptoms for decades but should regularly monitor the health of their lungs in order to detect any changes.