WARTACE, TN – Lawrence C. Parawan, Jr., 57, of Wartrace, Tennessee, was sentenced in January 2012 after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from the deliberate poisoning of wildlife on his Bedford County farm. The case, investigated by a multi-agency task force, revealed a calculated attempt to eliminate perceived predators using a highly restricted pesticide, resulting in the deaths of protected species and domestic animals.
According to court documents, Parawan laced a chicken carcass with carbofuran, a pesticide marketed under the trade name Furadan, and placed it on his property in December 2010. This act was intended to kill animals preying on his chickens. However, the use of carbofuran in this manner flagrantly violated federal regulations and labeling restrictions, specifically prohibiting its use as bait.
The poisoned carcass proved fatal to a Northern Harrier hawk – a species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act – along with two coyotes, a neighbor’s dog, and a skunk. An examination of the Northern Harrier hawk’s remains by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed lethal levels of carbofuran in its system, directly linking the death to Parawan’s actions.
The investigation, initiated after a report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, involved the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Regulatory Services. Agents discovered Parawan had obtained the carbofuran from an individual in Kentucky, receiving it in a small vial.
Legal Ramifications
Parawan was initially charged on August 2, 2011, with one count of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) – 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G) – for the unlawful use of a registered pesticide. He was also charged with a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) – 16 U.S.C. 703 – for the killing of the Northern Harrier hawk. He faced a potential sentence of six months imprisonment for the MBTA violation and 30 days for the FIFRA violation, along with fines and supervised release.
Ultimately, on January 30, 2012, Parawan received a sentence of 24 months probation on each count to be served concurrently, 80 hours of community service, a $500 federal fine, and a $50 special assessment. While the sentence was less severe than the maximum penalties, U.S. Attorney Bill Killian emphasized the seriousness of intentionally misusing pesticides and harming protected wildlife. “Intentional misuse of pesticides, especially when it results in the death of protected or endangered wildlife is a serious offense,” he stated.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Lawrence C. Parawan, Jr.
- Location: Wartrace, Bedford County, Tennessee
- Pesticide Used: Carbofuran (Furadan)
- Victims: One Northern Harrier hawk, two coyotes, one dog, one skunk
- Laws Violated: 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G) (FIFRA), 16 U.S.C. 703 (MBTA)
- Sentence: 24 months probation (concurrent), 80 hours community service, $550 in fines/assessments
This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences associated with the improper use of pesticides and the importance of protecting migratory birds and other wildlife.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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