Joshua Douglas Esry, Theft/Stealing, Missouri 2011

Buckner, MO – Joshua Douglas Esry was sentenced to five years incarceration in October 2011 after pleading guilty to a Class C felony charge of theft/stealing, stemming from a 2010 incident involving the illegal dumping of stolen vehicle radiators into the Little Blue River. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pursued by the State of Missouri, highlights the intersection of property crime and environmental damage.

According to court documents, Esry, along with accomplice Bryon Wilson, stole approximately 60 salvage radiators from a property in Buckner on September 7, 2010. Unable to find a buyer for the stolen goods, the pair attempted to conceal their crime by dumping the radiators into the Little Blue River, a tributary of the Missouri River. This act not only constituted theft but also introduced potentially hazardous materials into a vital waterway.

Divers were able to recover 28 of the dumped radiators from the riverbed. The recovery effort underscored the environmental impact of the illegal dumping. Radiators contain various metals and fluids, including lead and potentially oil, posing a threat to aquatic life and water quality. The EPA’s involvement signaled the seriousness with which such environmental violations are treated, even when originating from seemingly minor property crimes.

Wilson had previously entered a guilty plea and received a seven-year sentence on April 5, 2011, on a similar charge of theft/stealing. Esry’s sentence included an initial period of “shock incarceration” – 120 days of intensive confinement – after which the court retained the option to place him on probation instead of completing the full five-year term. No fine was imposed in either case.

Esry was initially charged with two counts of violating state environmental regulations, specifically codes 570030 and 577070, but ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of 570030. While the specific details of the violated regulations were not publicly released, they clearly pertain to the unlawful disposal of materials impacting state waterways. The case demonstrates that even acts initially classified as simple theft can carry significant environmental consequences and trigger criminal enforcement actions under state environmental laws.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Joshua Douglas Esry
Co-Defendant: Bryon Wilson (sentenced to 7 years)
Crime: Theft/Stealing, Illegal Dumping
Location: Buckner, Missouri
Date of Offense: September 7, 2010
Statutes Violated: Missouri State Code 570030
Penalty: 5 years incarceration (with possibility of probation after 120 days shock incarceration)
Evidence: 28 radiators recovered from Little Blue River

This case serves as a reminder that environmental crimes, even those arising from other offenses, are taken seriously by both state and federal agencies. The EPA continues to work with state partners to prosecute individuals and entities that endanger the environment through illegal activities.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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