2 incicted after bad-permt probe

Authorities say briefs influenced process for septic-tank inspections

Saturday, March 17, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

A private contractor and a former Caldwell County employee were indicted Friday on charges that they schemed to issue fraudulent septic permits in exchange for payoffs.

Michael Gerald Beane, 53, of Lenoir and James Brent Elliott of Denton were charged with felony bribery of a public official, said Capt. Chris Brackett of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.

Beane, a former environmental health specialist for the county's Health Department, was charged with receiving bribes, and Denton was charged with offering bribes.

In December 2004, authorities began looking into claims of fraudulent septic permits when the sewage system of a county resident failed, Brackett said.

Authorities found that the soil had not been properly inspected before the permit was issued, and they began looking at other permits. Several of the permits were fraudulent, Brackett said.

Beane, who had been issuing county septic permits since 1994, left his job with the Health Department immediately after the violations were discovered, Brackett said.

Authorities began looking at the permits and paperwork, Brackett said, and discovered that Beane had received payment for approving septic permits in the Anchor's Landing development, which lines the Catawba River in southern Caldwell County.

Elliott, 47, was working for Lake Norman Properties, the developer of Anchor's Landing, and was charged with offering to pay Beane for the permits, the Sheriff's Office said.

Brackett said numerous bad permits were issued, but he wouldn't give a specific number. He said authorities are continuing to find violations.

"We could get a call Monday with someone saying they have sewage pouring out of the backyard," Brackett said.

Additional bribery indictments against other contractors are likely, Brackett said. Beane could also face more charges.

Beane and Elliott were released Friday on $25,000 bond each and are scheduled to make their first court appearances May 7. Telephone numbers for Beane and Elliott were not available, and neither could be reached for comment.


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