Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane has filed criminal charges against the owner of the Covered Bridge Inn in Little Gap and another man for illegally disposing of waste.

Ronald F. Gilbert, 76, owner of the inn and Gilbert C. Green, 68, both of Palmerton, were charged after an investigation by the Office of Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Unit.According to a criminal complaint: Gilbert enlisted Green to pump waste from the septic tank at his restaurant into a nearby storm drain. Green, who served as a handyman for the business, was the person who assisted in the disposal process, investigators say.A state police trooper reported witnessing firsthand sewage being pumped from Gilbert's business into a storm drain. The storm drain ran directly into Hunter Creek, which is classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection as a high quality, cold water fishery, investigators reported.This illegal disposal of waste took place from March 2014 through January of this year.Gilbert also was sent several letters by a Lower Towamensing Township sewage enforcement officer in which he was reminded of regulations regarding the illegal discharge of sewage. The letters followed citizen complaints related to the alleged discharges, the criminal complaint states.Gilbert, of 120 Whispering Wood Drive, and Green, of 4170 Hahns Dairy Road, are both charged with one count each of unlawful conduct, prohibition against other pollution, pollution of waters and sewage discharges.Gilbert was released on his own recognizance following a preliminary arraignment Thursday.Green is being sought on an active arrest warrant. Both men are awaiting a preliminary hearing.Their case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Franz of the Environmental Crimes Unit.Gilbert purchased the restaurant in 2002.In late 2012, an expanded kitchen area and Pizza To Go were added as part of a 60-by-20 addition at the restaurant, located at 4300 Little Gap Road.That came after the Lower Towamensing Township board of supervisors agreed in 2012 to withdraw a suit that was filed against Gilbert and Carol Withers, the owners of the restaurant.In December 2010, township building code officer Duane Dellecker had filed an action in Carbon County Court against the couple, contending the defendants had not met building code requirements relating to the restaurant.As part of the suit, Dellecker asked the court to impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each day the alleged violations continued.The suit claimed Gilbert and Withers, husband and wife, on March 11, 2004, applied for a permit to construct the addition to the eastern side of the restaurant to enlarge the kitchen and dining area.The complaint said the zoning officer approved the application on April 4, 2004, with an effective date of April 9, 2004, although the defendant did not begin construction until July 2007.