City Manager and City Supervisor to Report to Prison
Release date: 02/05/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
(Dallas, Texas – February 5, 2009) Elk City, Oklahoma, City Manager Guy R. Hylton, Jr. and Elk City Supervisor Chick Arthur Little, convicted of violations of the federal Clean Air Act, will serve their sentences at the Federal Prison Camp in Big Spring, Texas.
The two were originally indicted by a federal grand jury on December 19, 2006, for using Elk City inmates to renovate the Rock Island Railroad Depot in Elk City without providing respiratory protection, protective clothing, or taking other required measures used for the removal of asbestos. Asbestos causes a wide range of illnesses, including various forms of cancer, including mesothelioma, and asbestosis, a usually fatal lung disease.
Following a trial, a jury in Oklahoma City found each man guilty of negligent endangerment by allowing the release of asbestos in a way that created a danger of death or serious bodily injury to the inmates who were working for the city as part of a work-release program. Little was additionally convicted of felony false statements related to lying to investigators conducting the criminal investigation which led to his indictment.
Last January, United States District Judge Joe Heaton ordered Hylton to serve six months in federal prison and pay a $15,000 fine. Judge Heaton ordered Little to serve eight months in federal prison, serve two years of supervised release upon release from prison and perform 104 hours of community service in lieu of a fine.
“EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s environmental laws through a strong enforcement program,” said EPA Special Agent in Charge Warren Amburn. “We must hold those accountable who endanger others and lie to federal officials to cover up their misconduct.”
Both men appealed their convictions to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and learned this week the court issued orders and judgments affirming their convictions and sentences. As a result of the failed appeal and his looming prison sentence, Guy Hylton resigned as Elk City’s Manager effective February 16, 2009.
Chick Arthur Little has been ordered to report to the Federal Prison Camp in Big Spring on Friday, February 20, 2009, and Guy Hylton has been ordered to report to the same facility on Friday, March 6, 2009.
More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6
EPA audio file is available for 30 days at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio.htm#audio020509_elkcity
1 comment:
From your mouth (or mine) to God's ears, I look forward to reading a similar story of our five city commissioners, city manager and city attorney, and the 6 or so high-ranking individuals who authorized our local spills and let it go on for several years.
Don't even get me started on the COSA moving a dump twice, never getting a permit either time because they all knew it's illegal to move a dump, period.
Both locations are primarily Black neighboorhoods and have been for perhaps a hundred years, yet our sole Black-skinned Commissioner himself made the motion to move the dump, to hell with the law or his life-long neighbors and friends.
They say they didn't have money in the budget to do it any other way except illegally. The city fought the EPA investigation hard and spent alot more city tax money to defend their decision to break the law.
When the public didn't buy it, Commissioner jones himself made another motion to move the Dump anywhere but back to Lincolnville.
After four years of abuses and deliberate violation of the law, the entire crew of Commissioners including Jones and the Mayor who authorized several breaches of Law by the city of St. Augustine administration were all re-elected by the very neighborhoods who were used as a target for environmental racism. We love our massas.
City Manager Harriss and Mayor Boles did their best to prevent any complaints from gaining any traction with investigators and especially residents. Of course, until an official complaint was filed, the city authorities wouldn't even discuss the situation, much less take a complaint themselves prior to intervention by State Law Enforcement.
I'm not the least bit vengeful, but how will bad-boys and girls learn if there are no consequences? Lets face it, this administration isn't just bad, its rotten to the core, though they do pretend well and dress up nice.
The citizens should be paid back every penny of the fines levied on the city, paid back by those officers, officials and city commissioners who authorized illegal acts in the first place. Otherwise Jail 'em.
Heck, they knew it was unlawful before they voted to authorize, so even if they voluntarily paid it off amongst themselves, I still say jail 'em all. Let a judge sort this all out.
roger_jolley@yahoo.com
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