CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Mercer County man who falsified mine safety reports at numerous West Virginia mining operations has entered in a guilty plea.
According to a release form U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office, 36-year-old Craig Belcher of Bluefield pleaded guilty Monday to providing a false statement, representation and certification in a Mine Safety and Health Administration 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 in Wyoming County, Frasure Creek’s Mine No. 15 in Fayette County, Pay Car’s Mine No. 58 in McDowell County and Double Bonus’s Mine No. 65 in Wyoming County.
Between Jan. 27, 2009, and July 13, 2010, Belcher signed pre-shift and on-shift reports that contained falsified information indicating he had properly examined particular sections at each mine. The release said Belcher was not a certified foreman when he assembled the reports.
Belcher faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on Dec. 2.