Joseph Michael Kehrer of New Baden, Illinois, is facing federal prison time after pleading guilty to a felony count of failing to notify environmental regulators before ripping out more than 160 square feet of asbestos-laden material from a former elementary school. The charge, announced by U.S. Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois, exposes Kehrer to up to five years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Kehrer, the former owner of the shuttered Okawville Elementary School in Washington County, admitted that during renovations in February and March 2015, he oversaw the removal of asbestos-containing materials without following federal law. That law mandates property owners notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) at least 10 working days before any such abatement. Kehrer knowingly skipped the notification, putting workers and the public at risk.
The building, once a cornerstone of the Okawville community, became a hazard zone under Kehrer’s watch. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, can release deadly fibers when disturbed—especially during unregulated demolition. Authorities say Kehrer didn’t just cut corners—he ignored a critical safeguard designed to prevent long-term public health disasters.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General led the probe, uncovering a deliberate failure to comply with environmental protections. Investigators found no record of Kehrer filing the required notification with IEPA, despite the scale of the removal exceeding federal reporting thresholds.
Kehrer’s sentencing is set for June 12, 2018, in federal district court in Benton, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Coonan is prosecuting the case, with support from David P. Mucha, Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel at the EPA. The government’s case hinges on Kehrer’s own admission of guilt—no trial needed.
Asbestos violations are often treated as regulatory lapses, but this case underscores how they can cross into felony territory when ignored with full knowledge. Kehrer’s actions didn’t just break the law—they endangered lives. Now, he answers to a federal judge and a justice system with zero tolerance for cutting corners on public safety.
Related Federal Cases
- WashFed Execs Jailed for Bank Fraud Cover-Up · Illinois
- Pulaski Savings Bank Shut Down, Deposits Sold to Millennium Bank · Illinois
- Google Cornered: AG James Nails Tech Giant in Ad Monopoly Case · New Hampshire
- Live Nation Faces Lone Fight: NY AG Rejects DOJ Deal · Washington
- Live Nation & Ticketmaster Face Antitrust Fight in NY · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
