MASSEY SECURITY CHIEF CHARGED WITH LYING, DESTROYING FILES - Upper Big Branch Disaster Killed 29

(03/02/2011)
UBB Security Chief Charged With Lying, Destroying Files

By Ken Ward Jr.
wvgazette.com

Charleston W.Va. - The chief of security for Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine lied to investigators and tried to destroy mine records, a grand jury has alleged in the first charges to come from a federal criminal probe of the April 2010 explosion that killed 29 coal miners.

Hughie Elbert Stover, 60, of Clear Fork in Raleigh County, was charged with two felonies that allege he tried to obstruct FBI agents and U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration investigators looking into the mine disaster.

The eight-page indictment alleges Stover lied to investigators about company policies and practices regarding warning mine personnel when federal safety inspectors arrived on site. It also alleges Stover tried to destroy thousands of pages of security documents investigators believe could shed light on how Massey handles such matters ...

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