Santa Barbara homeowner, hired worker arraigned for illegal Eugenia tree removal
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Two men charged with illegally cutting and removing trees from a Riviera neighborhood in Santa Barbara were in court Monday for their arraignment.
James Allen Carr and Enriquez Calles Vasquez both pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of vandalism and four misdemeanor counts.
The incident happened back in December of 2020 on Paterna Road.
Prosecutors allege Carr hired Vasquez and a crew to chop down four, mature Eugenia trees on or near Carr s newly purchased property. It s estimated the trees were more than 50-years-old; three were owned by the city.
Two men face charges for illegally cutting down Eugena Trees in Santa Barbara keyt.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from keyt.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Illegal tree removal on Santa Barbara’s Riviera brings criminal charges
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - If there is one thing many people in Santa Barbara can agree on, it is a love for the trees in the community.
Eugenia Trees still standing on Paterna Rd. (Beth Farnsworth/KEYT)
One homeowner is finding out the hard way.
The City Attorney’s Office has filed a misdemeanor complaint against James Allen Carr and Enrique Calles Vasquez for their alleged role in a tree removal incident on the 1700 block of Paterna Rd. on the Riviera. The tree-lined street is less than a half mile from the historic Belmond El Encanto hotel.
Three trees were cut down in the parkway in front of the house, on city property
A homeowner on Santa Barbara’s Riviera hired a crew to cut down four trees without a city permit on Saturday, sparking a backlash in the neighborhood and furor among city officials. (Contributed photo) By Joshua Molina, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @JECMolina
December 23, 2020
| 12:58 p.m.
In a swift and bold response, the Santa Barbara City Attorney s Office said Wednesday that it would be pursuing criminal and civil cases against a Riviera neighborhood homeowner who chopped down four trees without a permit.
As first reported in Noozhawk on Monday, James Carr hired a Los Angeles company to cut down three Eugenia trees on city property in the parkway in front of his house. He also cut a fourth tree on his property, within the front yard setback.