CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The first of a half-dozen former Freedom Industries officials to be sentenced in connection with the chemical spill in Jan. 2014 will avoid any prison time.
Robert Reynolds was sentenced in Charleston federal court Monday to three years probation and a $10,000 fine.
Since 2002, Reynolds worked with Freedom as an environmental consultant and was responsible for developing and maintaining pollution prevention plans.
Reynolds admitted that he should have developed and maintained a storm water pollution prevention plan and a groundwater protection plan for the MCHM storage tanks that could have prevented the chemical spill.
Before his sentencing, Reynolds issued a public apology for his role in the spill and resulting water crisis that lasted several weeks.
Reynolds previously pleaded guilty to pollution charges last April.
The incident spilled Crude MCHM into the Elk River, contaminating water for residents in parts of nine counties.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston is scheduled to sentence former vice-president and co-owner of Freedom Charles Herzing.
Top officials Gary Southern and Dennis Farrell are also awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to pollution charges in the case.