Landowner Takes Ax To Wwp Power Line He Sues, Alleging Cable Buried Illegally; But He Faces Charges, Too

Tony Maniglia used an ax to “terminate” a 7,200-volt electric line he didn’t want on his property.

Washington Water Power officials say he’s lucky he lived to sue them over his claim that the underground cable was installed without an easement - and to face a felony charge of first-degree malicious mischief.

Maniglia, who operates an automobile-repair shop in Colville and has no criminal record, could get up to 90 days in jail if convicted.

But defense attorney Charles Burns Jr. said Ferry County Prosecutor Al Nielson is offering to reduce the charge to the lowest category of misdemeanor.

Maniglia says he’s innocent of any charge because the power line was installed illegally. He says in his lawsuit that he warned WWP he would “terminate” the line if the company used its proposed route.

“It’s not just him versus WWP, but it’s cutting off emergency service for those people who live nearby,” Nielson said, noting three nearby houses lost power when Maniglia cut the line last month.

The location of the buried cable, which was repaired, will keep him from taking advantage of a view of the Columbia River when he builds a new house, Maniglia says. He says WWP could have used a longer route across his property to provide service to a neighbor’s new house.

The company said it could install the line under a 1982 agreement with Ferry County that allows power lines in road rights of way. But Maniglia says the road on his property didn’t exist in 1982.

WWP officials declined to comment on the easement dispute, but said an ax is not a good remedy.

Power from the underground cable could have arced up and electrocuted Maniglia even though he used an ax with a Fiberglas handle, spokeswoman Dana Anderson said.

WWP claims representative Linda Edwards said she doesn’t think anyone ever cut a primary transmission line on purpose before, but some who did it by accident were killed or maimed.

“You talk to some people and they say I’m lucky to be alive, but other people say it’s no big deal as long as you’re quick and you make a clean cut,” Maniglia said. “Actually, I didn’t have a clean blow and I had to cut it a couple of times.”

But Maniglia admitted he was a little apprehensive.

“I don’t see it any different from somebody who gets on a Brahma bull the first time,” Maniglia said. “You know you could get hurt, but you take precautions.”

, DataTimes