Conduct of illegal handling of hazardous waste

Hazardous Waste

Assume that negligent handling of hazardous waste is a strict liability crime and carries a penalty of up to a year in jail. Rollie Davis bought a manufacturing company, but had no intention of being involved in the operation of the business; he lives in a different part of the county and lets thebusiness’s long-time managers handle the day-to-day operations. A year later, authorities discover that Davis’s company has been illegally dumping hazardous waste for the past 10 years, well before he bought the company.

Can Davis be held criminally liable for the company’s past conduct of illegal handling of hazardous waste? Why or why not?

What about for the last year of dumping? Why or why not?

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