Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Charges Dropped Against Two Men Indicted for Mine Safety Violations.
Federal mine safety violations have been dismissed against two people indicted in August for unsafe conditions at a Pike County mine.
US District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove dismissed charges against 47 year-old Mitch Lester of McCarr, and Bill Vanover, 36, of Lovely.
Lester and Vanover have agreed to cooperate and assist the prosecution in their case.
Three other defendents that were indicted Ire land Williams of Louisa, Dean Francis of Belfry and Monroe Maynard of Lovely are set to go to trial Oct 15th.
The alleged violations occurred Jan 2004 to Dec 2005 at the James H. Taylor Mining, Inc, # 1 mine near Turkey Creek.
The violations include actions such as the deep cuts of coal in violation of the mine’s roof control plan, excessive widths of rooms, mining into old work mines without an approved plan, not cleaning up coal dust , installing required fire sensors along the belt line but not electronically connecting them and allowing miners to carry smoking materials and permitting them to smoke in the mine.
Each violation carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison , a $10,000 fine.
US District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove dismissed charges against 47 year-old Mitch Lester of McCarr, and Bill Vanover, 36, of Lovely.
Lester and Vanover have agreed to cooperate and assist the prosecution in their case.
Three other defendents that were indicted Ire land Williams of Louisa, Dean Francis of Belfry and Monroe Maynard of Lovely are set to go to trial Oct 15th.
The alleged violations occurred Jan 2004 to Dec 2005 at the James H. Taylor Mining, Inc, # 1 mine near Turkey Creek.
The violations include actions such as the deep cuts of coal in violation of the mine’s roof control plan, excessive widths of rooms, mining into old work mines without an approved plan, not cleaning up coal dust , installing required fire sensors along the belt line but not electronically connecting them and allowing miners to carry smoking materials and permitting them to smoke in the mine.
Each violation carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison , a $10,000 fine.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 3:50 PM 
