Lumberjack Promoter Facing Tax Charges

David Eckberg, promoter of the now-defunct Lumberjack Days in Stillwater, Minn., faces felony counts for failing to pay sales, alcohol, and entertainment taxes over the last few years of the fest’s existence, according to court documents obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

A complaint filed by the local county attorney’s office in 2012 asked the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s criminal investigation division to look into potential tax violations and the investigation found debts of more than $100,000.

The complaint states Eckberg “knew or should have known as a professional promoter the sales made by the Lumberjack Days Festival were subject to Minnesota Sales Tax and Alcohol Taxes.”

But Eckberg’s attorney told the Star Tribune that Eckberg simply wasn’t good at record keeping “and it led to a lot of financial issues.

This really is a further chapter of the financial troubles of Lumberjack Days that we’re just trying to put to closure.” Eckberg pleaded guilty last year to writing bad checks ranging from $2,200 to a beer distributor to $20,000 to a production company, the paper said.

He was required to pay back the funds plus a $1,000 fine, sentenced to community service and a year of probation. The attorney is reportedly negotiating a resolution with the state for the tax charges and Eckberg is scheduled to appear in court May. 7.