Two Elk City officials were sentenced to federal prison today for exposing prison inmates to asbestos during a 2003 renovation project.
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City manager Guy R. Hylton and construction crew manager Chick Little were convicted in federal court in Oklahoma City in August of negligent endangerment, a lesser charge than the ones returned by a federal grand jury. Little also was convicted of lying to investigators with the state Department of Environmental Quality after the discovery of asbestos in 2003 shut down renovations at a century-old railroad depot owned by the city.
Hylton, who U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton said lied when he testified during his trial, was sentenced to six months in prison, while Little must serve eight months.
Hylton and Little were indicted in December 2006, accused of using state prison inmates to renovate the depot without issuing them proper protective equipment. They also were accused of improperly disposing of the asbestos insulation taken from the building.
Asbestos, once commonly used as insulation, is made of microscopic fibers that can cause lung damage if inhaled.
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What color is the sky in your world Patty and Dave. Do what research you need to in order to understand the affects of damage to lungs that asbestos can cause. FYI, death is a side affect. So that would make those two lazy nuckleheads criminals. And as far as the cost is concerned, I would be more upset about the cost of the now lifelong care those inmates will now receive along with any future settlement against the prison that the taxpayers will now pay for. Rest assured the cost of the trial was not that expensive in comparison to the cost of the medical care. All of that for just being lazy.
This is what our tax money goes for? We sentence a productive citizen, a first time offender (of questionable guilt in a he said she said case) to prison! Why don't the prosecutors & the judge earn their pay by going after the real criminals!!!!!
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