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State closes pest-control operations after many complaints By David Preszler A Medford pest control company owner has agreed to cease doing business amid consumer complaints. Sterling Knight, president and owner of A Home Protection Natural Extermination Company Inc., signed an agreement with the Oregon Department of Justice to go out of the pest business immediately and permanently. The deal was approved by a Jackson County court Monday. Knight also did business as All Natural X-Terminators, Natural X-Terminators and All Star Networks. Fifteen consumers filed complaints against Knight�s various pest control companies. They say the companies misrepresented the quality and nature of their services and failed to deliver pre-paid goods and services. The consumers came from a variety of cities including Central Point, Jacksonville, Myrtle Point, Roseburg, Cave Junction, Coos Bay, Brandon, Coquille and Klamath Falls. The consumers claim they are owed $9,057, though a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed by Knight protects him from those restitution claims. The state says the largest loss reported was $2,490, which a Jacksonville woman claims she is owed. The complaints are civil rather than criminal. Under the deal, Knight admits no wrongdoing. However, he agrees to no longer engage in pesticide application, pest extermination and construction contracting in Oregon. The agreement � called an assurance of voluntary compliance � stipulates a civil penalty of up to $25,000 if Knight violates its terms. When reached for comment, Knight declined to say much about the deal other than to say he wants to put the situation behind him. State officials say questions or complaints about pest control companies are relatively common. Consumers can check to see if complaints have been filed against specific pest control operators by calling the attorney general�s consumer hot line at (877) 877-9392 and the Better Business Bureau. More information on pest control � including whether an operator is properly licensed � is available from the Oregon Department of Agriculture at (503) 986-4635 or check online at www.oda.state.or.us/pesticide/info.html Consumers can also write to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pesticides Division, 635 Capitol Street NE, Salem, OR 97310. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA