Hefty Fine
Penelope revealed that the fine for deliberately felling such a tree without a permit was up to $30,000 and/or six months in jail. The Environmental Protection Agency came down hard on anyone destroying endangered species to make an example of them and Mr. Thompson knew it.
He was terrified. When it came to his statement, he pleaded ignorance, saying that he had no idea of the value of the tree and that he was sorry for his actions. But was it too late? Was Mr. Thompson about to be sent to jail?