A US judge rejected Thursday a bid by former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, the man once known as West Virginia’s “King of Coal”, to remain free while the court considers an appeal of his conviction related to the deadliest U.S. mine explosion in four decades.
He will start a one-year prison sentence on Thursday after being convicted last month in relation to the deadliest U.S. mine explosion in four decades.
Blankenship’s lawyers filed an emergency motion Tuesday in hopes of convincing the court to allow their client to remain a free man on $1 million bail while the court considers his appeal, ABC News reports.
Federal prosecutors said that the motion was “redundant” because Blankenship’s team had already asked the appeals court to spare him from serving time during the appeals process.
Though he was tried in West Virginia, Blankenship is expected to serve his time in California starting today, after being convicted last month of conspiring to wilfully violate mine safety standards at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch coal mine, which exploded in 2010, killing 29 men.
He was sentenced April 6 to a year in prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine, becoming the first such a high-ranking corporate executive who has been found guilty of a workplace safety crime.
3 Comments
MiniBulk Inc.
Less than 2 weeks in jail for every man killed. Safety is a culture, and this man has none.
J. D. Baker
Why CA prison?
This has more to do with this administration’s determinatiin to destroy coal industry, than “safety” enforcement. And no, not excusing or ignoring the facts here – but anyone who believes this is all about safety isn’t paying attention.
Restless Boomers
Don Blankenship did more to extend coal’s run than anyone else. He was a big player who got caught in a big political snare. Time flys and Don will be back on the streets before long, hopefully fitter than ever and with some new plans. As always, we wish Don the very best.