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Ex-Freedom Industries owner to be sentenced

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The fourth of six former Freedom Industries officials is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in connection with the 2014 chemical spill in Charleston.

William Tis, 60, will go before U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston at the federal court courthouse in Charleston at 2 p.m.

He previously pleaded guilty to environmental violations leading to an unlawful discharge of a coal-cleaning agent into the Elk River.

The MCHM spill contaminated drinking water for over 300,000 residents in parts of nine West Virginia counties.

Tis faces up to a year in prison and a fine.

Last week, three ex-Freedom workers avoided any prison time. Former farm plant manager Michael Burdette, former vice-president Charles Herzing and former environmental consultant Robert Reynolds were each sentenced to three years probation and told to pay thousands of dollars in fines.

Freedom Industries, as a company, was also sentenced to a maximum fine of $900,000.

Former President Gary Southern and former owner and officer Dennis Farrell are still awaiting sentencing for their roles in the water emergency.





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