GEORGETOWN – The controversial sand mining operation that has been on-going for months at 214 North St. erupted last week in criminal charges of larceny, lying and forgery against Todd Champlain, who billed himself as the manager of the 100-year-old Zibell Farm.
Police Chief David Sedgwick announced that with assistance from the Danvers and Middleton Police Departments, his department arrested 41-year-old Champlain of Middleton Friday, following a lengthy investigation. He was scheduled for arraignment in Haverhill District Court Monday.
Champlain is charged with two felony counts for forging owner Kathy Potter’s signature on documents filed with the town regarding the sand mining, two felony counts of “uttering false writings” and one count of larceny. He was also accused of taking $30,000 from the property owner and that he sold more than $200,000 worth of sand without reimbursing the property owner.
Georgetown Police also determined that Champlain was working at the farm under false pretenses. In August, Champlain was taken into custody on an undisclosed, unrelated warrant, according to the Georgetown police.
The chief said police initially received several reports of large commercial activity and traffic on the property. Neighbors had been complaining for months to the town about the huge volume of dump truck, sifters and bulldozers that were removing sand from the farm through their neighborhood. The trucks and equipment operated long hours to the dismay of the neighbors.
Champlain told The Town Common that the valuable sand was being sold to concrete manufacturers.
The police served seven traffic violations on Champlain on the sand removal.
“I want to recognize the Georgetown Police Detectives who used their skills and experience to bring this case to a conclusion,” Chief Sedgwick said. “Thank you to the Danvers and Middleton Police Departments and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for their support and guidance.”
In August, the Lawrence Superior Court ordered the mining operation at the farm to cease, acting on a motion by town attorneys, who argued that Robles Excavating Co., Champlain and Potter were mining the sand without permits from the town.
At a recent meeting of the SelectBoard and Board of Assessors, Georgetown Town Manager Orlando Pacheco said the farm is in the process of being sold.
Pacheco said the property would most likely be under agreement for sale to an unnamed developer “by December first. (Mary Potter is) going to sell the property, the whole property.”
The 100-year-old farm has 28 acres, five of which were being mined for its sand. The plan was to mine other 5-acre parcels for the valuable sand, Champlain told the Planning Board.
Town hall sources confirmed that the future developer has met with the planning, conservation and other offices investigating the property, reviewing maps, asking about utilities, water, and determining any offsets and any limitations on placing an untold number of homes/townhouses/apartments on the parcel. ♦
