Miner Gets 30 Days for Occupying Forest Land

Monday, David Duane Everist, 52, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for unlawfully maintaining a residence on National Forest lands, and using those lands without an approved operating plan and cutting trees without authorization. Everist was previously found guilty in a one day trial in Medford’s U.S. District Court.

In October of last year, Everist moved two trailers onto the Twin Cedars mining claim in Josephine County and conducted mining activities without approval from the forest service.

Everist insisted the claim was his private property and the Forest Service had no jurisdiction over his claim and warned them he could have them arrested for trespass by the local sheriff.

This is Everist’s third conviction for violations of Forest Service regulations involving the same mining site.

In addition to 30 days in jail, he must complete three years of probation with conditions prohibiting him from residing, occupying, or conducting any mining activity on Forest Service or BLM lands.

Source: KAJO AM1270