Associated Press - November 3, 2009 4:25 PM ET

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - 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.

Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

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