Brooklyn Man Settles Blind Neighbor's Poisoned-Tree Case for $3,000
Stephen Antonson, accused of poisoning trees to open his Rockport harbor view, admitted no guilt; the late Ruth Graham's son calls the fine inadequate.
A Brooklyn man will pay $3,000 to settle state allegations that he poisoned an elderly neighbor's trees to clear the harbor view from his Rockport vacation home, under an agreement the Maine Board of Pesticides Control approved on Feb. 27, the Bangor Daily News reported.
Stephen Antonson did not admit guilt, but the agreement states a court could find him responsible for the violations. Board member Curtis Bohlen said he was not happy with the outcome but doubted a better one was available. In 2025, the board unanimously turned down a nearly identical deal, partly because it said Antonson disputed the board's findings.
State investigators found holes drilled into trees on land owned by Ruth Graham, a legally blind woman in her 90s whose trees stood between the harbor and the Antonson family's home on Mechanic Street. Lab tests found two herbicides, imazapic and triclopyr. Graham, who had declined requests to remove the trees or sell part of her land, died in 2024 at 95.
Her son Eric Grubman called the fine inadequate and said the family mainly wants an apology.
After a similar case in Camden, lawmakers in 2025 raised penalties for pesticide misuse to as much as $50,000 when a violator benefits substantially, and up to $75,000 for a repeat violation. The new fines do not apply here because the poisoning happened earlier. The agreement does not bar criminal charges or a civil suit.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
