BALTIMORE — Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has announced the filing of criminal charges against William Anthony Culler, II, operating under the trade name Culler Group, for the unlawful demolition of the historic St. Vincent Infant Asylum buildings in Baltimore City.
According to Frosh, the charges include among other things, failure to obtain the proper permit and approval for the demolition of the property from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE); failure to properly inspect the property for the presence of asbestos; failure to notify MDE of the intent to engage in an asbestos project; and, failure to take reasonable steps to prevent asbestos from becoming airborne.
Each charge is punishable by up to one year of incarceration and a fine of up to $25,000.
Demolition of the property began around February 12, 2018 and continued until February 26, 2018. After collected samples of demolition debris, inspectors were able to confirm the presence of regulated asbestos-containing material in one of the samples.
A Criminal Information is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
