Developer Gary Royce, Jr. of Fulton will spend a month in jail for intentionally installing faulty septic systems in a Granby housing development.
Royce was sentenced Monday in Syracuse along with employee Leslie Baker of Mexico and former Granby code enforcement officer Harold Babcock. Royce received the stiffest sentence — 30 days in jail, 5 years probation, 120 hours of community service, $18,375 restitution, and orders of protection to stay away from his victims.
Baker was sentenced to 5 years probation, $11,676 in restitution, and 100 hours of community service. Babcock received a conditional discharge and was ordered to pay $1,676 in restitution.
Royce was accused of installing septic systems that he knew were defective in part of the Country Estates subdivision in Granby. The systems lacked some components and did not have plans designed by an engineer or inspections, according to the State Attorney General’s Office. An engineer is being investigated for a possible criminal case, the state said.
Royce fixed or had others fix 11 septic systems and 2 wells in the subdivision as a condition of his plea agreement with the state.
The state is also suing Royce in civil court over his work on the subdivision.
“With total disregard for the environmental impact and long term ramifications for his customers, this builder consistently cut corners and ignored the legal requirements of his trade,” Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “The sloppy and hazardous work has now been remedied at the builder’s expense and the homeowners he victimized finally have the properly functioning homes they were promised.”
The Fulton City School District recently overlooked Royce’s low bid to supply snow plowing services to the district, awarding the bid to another bidder. The legal action against Royce was cited as the reason.
missing or outdated ad config