State: Neubig Farm Owner Arrested for Operating Illegal Waste Disposal Site

The owner of Neubig Farm on Barberry Road — the site of this spring and summer, — was arrested Wednesday and charged with the illegal stockpiling and subsequent burial of significant amounts of trash, plastics, wood pallets and other debris on his property in East Haven, according to a state Division of Criminal Justice press release.

Solid Waste Without A Permit

Robert Neubig, 55, of 10 Signal Hill Road in Wallingford, was charged with one count each of Construction of a Solid Waste Facility Without a Permit and Operation of a Solid Waste Facility Without a Permit.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) referred the case to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney alleging that Neubig was operating a solid waste facility without the necessary permits.

The division states that Neubig was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at the property on Barberry Road by the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, the and the DEEP Waste, Engineering and Enforcement Division.

'Long History' of Violations

According to the warrant, Wednesday's charges follow a long history of environmental and criminal violations at the property dating back to 2004 — including illegal solid waste disposal and illegal open burning.

Neubig was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned at New Haven Superior Court, G.A. No. 23, on Sept. 24.

The division states that if the Wallingford man is convicted on these charges, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison and/or fines of up to $25,000 per day.

Fires at Farm Under Investigation

On Aug. 9, that sits on the farm's 142 Barberry Road parcel.

The house stands just about 10 feet away from where , the first of the property's three fires this year.

The , occured at the 114 Barberry Road parcel on July 13, and resulted in the old cow barn burning down to the ground — with a plume smoke that could be seen for miles.

All three fires are currently under investigation. And East Haven Fire Chief Douglas Jackson reported Aug. 10 that the most recent fire .

East Haven Patch will have additional updates on this story as it continues to develop.

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