Central New York man flooded cemetery, forcing families to rebury relatives, DA's office says

New York's attorney general has obtained a court order against a central New York man who he says was illegally flooding a cemetery, forcing families to rebury deceased relatives.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office has accused the Cortland County man of redirecting the flow of stormwater runoff during construction on his property in 2012. Schneiderman's office says the water eroded gravesites at the cemetery and prompted the reburial of several bodies.

The court order announced by Schneiderman's office on Wednesday requires James Stevens to cease the diversion of stormwater unless he obtains a state permit, and to submit a plan to restore the drainage to its earlier configuration.

Stevens referred questions to his attorney, who did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday.