West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to False Mine Safety Reporting

A southern West Virginia mine foreman faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to falsifying safety reports at four mining operations.

Federal prosecutors say 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. He had been set to stand trial on Tuesday after being indicted by a federal grand jury in late April.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office said the incidents occurred between January 2009 and July 2010 at Spartan Mining Co.’s Road Fork No. 51 mine and Double Bonus’s No. 65 mine, both in Wyoming County; Frasure Creek’s No. 15 mine in Fayette County, and Pay Car’s No. 58 mine in McDowell County.

Prosecutors said Belcher signed both pre-shift and on-shift reports that he completed mine inspections. However, Belcher wasn’t certified as a foreman when the reports were completed, and he allegedly used foreman’s certificate numbers that weren’t his.

In addition to prison time, Belcher also faces a $250,000 fine when sentenced Dec. 2.