A father and son have been sentenced to county jail for illegal gold mining in California

[Assembler]

Father and son charged with illegal gold mining in California

Story by Owen Scott Oct 25

A father and son have been sentenced to county jail for illegal gold mining in California, with the district attorney declaring: “This is not 1849.”

Gregory Arnoldi Jr., from Nevada City, and his father, Gregory Arnoldi Sr., from Browns Valley, constructed an illegal dirt road along Keystone Creek near Loganville in Sierra County, prosecutors say.

An image released by the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office shows one of the two defendants driving a digger. The sheriff’s office says the vehicle was used to make alterations to a historic carriage route in order to allow passage for their truck and mining equipment.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/othe...S&cvid=6ade96e2b9f44159896ed417ebc4e892&ei=36

 

[k0bgalan]

Personal opinion. Gold mining activity is one thing, but using a digger to make a road is another issue altogether.

Although I live in New Mexico, I'm not all that familiar with New Mexico's rules about gold mining. But building a road across protected lands is a strict no-no. I suspect California's laws are similar.

 

[Jeff H]

Serves them right.

 

[russau]

The rules are the rules to go by ! This is what happens when you don't !

 

[Assembler]

Personal opinion. Gold mining activity is one thing, but using a digger to make a road is another issue altogether.

Although I live in New Mexico, I'm not all that familiar with New Mexico's rules about gold mining. But building a road across protected lands is a strict no-no. I suspect California's laws are similar.

The main reason for the topic thread post is to find out the details as you are likely correct on the fact of not having permission / permit for the work on the road.