Executives plead not guilty over West Virginia chemical spill: media

Source: Reuters

Executives plead not guilty over West Virginia chemical spill: media

BECKLEY, W. Va. Fri Jan 9, 2015 4:48am EST

(Reuters) - Three former executives pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges stemming from a chemical spill that fouled drinking water for about 300,000 West Virginians, media reported.

Prosecutors in December accused Freedom Industries Inc, its former president Gary Southern and other officers of negligence and fraud after the discharge of a chemical pollutant into the Elk River near Charleston a year ago.

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Southern, who was arrested in early December in Florida and released after posting a $100,000 bond, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, local broadcaster WOWK-TV reported.

Former company officers Dennis Farrell and William Tis pleaded not guilty to similar charges and have been released, each on a $10,000 bond, West Virginia MetroNews reported.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/09/us-usa-environment-freedom-idUSKBN0KI0SJ20150109