WV Miner Charged With Falsifying Safety Records

A West Virginia coal miner has been charged with falsifying safety records at an Ohio County mine.

The U.S. attorney's office in Wheeling announced Monday 31-year-old Sean A. Chase of Spencer was indicted by a grand jury on 29 counts of making false representations and certifications in mine safety records.

The government said Chase claimed to be a mine foreman while he was working at the Tunnel Ridge Mine and qualified to perform mine safety exams. Prosecutors say that was false, that he was not a foreman.

Chase faces up to five years in prison on each of the charges and a fine of up to $10,000.