Pocatello Man Convicted of Illegally Storing Hazardous Waste

POCATELLO (KTVB) -- An eastern Idaho man has been convicted in federal court of storing and disposing of hazardous waste, a felony.

U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced Tuesday that 73-year-old Max Spatig of Rexburg was convicted on Monday following a two-week jury trial.

Authorities say that in July 2010 a search found 3,478 containers of hazardous waste on the property outside Rexburg.

Authorities say many of the containers were corroded and had been left outside for years.

The contents were shipped to a hazardous waste disposal facility at a cost of $500,000.

Spatig and his business, MS Enterprises, didn't have permits to operate as a hazardous waste dump.

Authorities say Spatig has been held in custody since September 2014 due to violations of court orders while on pre-trial release.