A Stockton man will serve prison time following his conviction stemming from an illegal petroleum dumping case in which approximately 280 gallons of oil product was dumped into a waterway near the Smith Canal in Stockton.
David Andrew Sump was sentenced to six years in prison by a San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge on Monday, March 23, 2026. Sump’s prior criminal record was factored into the sentence. An investigation by CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division, with assistance from the Stockton Police Department and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, connected Sump to the incident, which took place on Sept. 27, 2024.
The incident triggered a multi-agency response that included CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR), the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stockton Fire Department and other agencies. Cleanup contractors eventually removed the oil product from the waterway and nearby soil.
Following the incident, investigators spent several weeks gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Multiple citizens called in tips to the CDFW CalTIP Hotline (Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters), which provided enough information to request an arrest warrant.
Sump was convicted on felony charges that included destruction of public property/vandalism, knowingly discharging a pollutant into waters of the state, and illegal disposal of hazardous waste. He was also convicted on two misdemeanor pollution and dumping charges.
“Attentive members of the public and their quick efforts to report this crime proved crucial in holding this polluter accountable,” said Assistant Chief Josh Nicholas, CDFW-OSPR Law Enforcement Division. “We encourage anyone who sees anything impacting our waterways to report it immediately so we can launch a timely investigation.”
To report a poaching or pollution incident, or any fish and wildlife crime, call the CalTIP Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258), or text CALTIP following by a space and the message to 847411 (TIP411).
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Media Contacts:
Eric Laughlin, CDFW-OSPR Communications, (916) 214-3279
Kristina Werner, CDFW-OSPR Communications, (916) 594-4704