Associated Press
 
November 3, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A federal judge has convicted a Gold Hill man of illegal mining while digging for gold on Forest Service land.
 
Clifford R. Tracy was sentenced to a year on probation. He was also ordered to pay the costs to remedy his road-building and mining on Sucker Creek in Josephine County.
 
The 37-year-old Tracy was cited before he was arrested in September. He spent 12 days in jail when he refused to sign a release agreement promising he wouldn't continue mining.
 
The federal government has also sued Tracy, seeking to hold him responsible for any environmental damage caused by his mining.