Former mine foreman pleads guilty to falsifying mine safety documents

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Mercer County man who falsified mandatory mine safety reports while employed at numerous West Virginia mining operations has entered in a guilty plea.

According to a release form U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s Office, Craig Belcher, 36, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty Monday to providing a false statement, representation and certification in a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) document.

From January 2009 to July 2010, Belcher was hired to work as an underground mine foreman at four mines in West Virginia.

According to the release, those mines were Spartan Mining Company’s Road Fork No. 51 mine located in Wyoming County, Frasure Creek’s Mine No. 15 located in Fayette County, Pay Car’s Mine No. 58 in McDowell County and Double Bonus’s Mine No. 65 in Wyoming County.

Between January 27, 2009 and July 13, 2010, Belcher signed pre-shift and on-shift reports which indicated that he had properly examined particular sections at each mine and also falsified information on pre-shift and on-shift reports. The release said Belcher was not a certified foreman when he put the reports together.

Belcher faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on December 2.