Unlicensed Tree Care Technician Fails To Appear In Montgomery County District Court

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SILVER SPRING — Ronnie Lee Smith of Bealton, VA, charged with operating a tree expert business without a license and false advertising or soliciting as an unlicensed tree expert business, failed to appear at Montgomery County District Court today on charges filed by the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP). The court entered a Failure to Appear on Smith’s behalf, and the judge subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The charges were filed by the NRP in November of 2006 relating to a complaint received by the Maryland Forest Service, a division of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The complainant, a resident of Silver Spring, reported that Smith, owner of Smith’s Tree & Firewood Service, came through his neighborhood soliciting tree care services. A check of departmental records showed that Smith is not a Licensed Tree Expert and has no Licensed Tree Experts on staff.

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January 25, 2007

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov