COVENTRY – The owner of the Coventry campground which stayed in operation despite being closed down by county health officials is now facing personal charges related to the offense.

Ahmad Shaheed, 57, appeared in the Town of Coventry court Wednesday to face charges of willful violation of public health laws in relation to his continued operation of the campground. The charges were filed on July 15 by Chenango County’s Director of Public Health, Marcas Flindt, just days after Shaheed hosted the 3rd Annual Orb Festival, a four-day outdoor music event, at the facility.

According to Flindt’s complaint, which was read during the hearing, Echo Lake had been officially closed by the health department on May 22. Furthermore, notice had been served on two other occasions, on June 15 and 22, that they needed to cease operation immediately because of the closure. These notifications were ignored, however, and the campground remained open.

Shaheed did not have an attorney present, although he was advised by Town Justice Russell Lerwick that he was entitled to representation. The business owner did not enter a plea on the charges, but he did make a statement to the court.

“I did talk to them and I did comply with what they told me,” he said, referring to officials from the county health department.