Southern faces a maximum of three years in federal prison at a sentencing date set for Dec. 16, while Dennis Farrell, another former executive charged, faces up to two years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 14.
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Former company executives William Tis and Charles Herzing also have pleaded guilty to unlawful discharge.
Former Freedom president Gary Southern was scheduled to enter a guilty plea at a hearing on Wednesday.
Farrell’s sentencing leaves him facing up to 2 years in jail and a $200,000 fine. The spill caused a drinking water emergency impacting some 300,000 residents in parts of nine counties. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Charleston to misdemeanor charges of violating the federal Clean Water Act, negligently discharging refuse matter and failing to have a pollution prevention plan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Farrell and Southern had both previously pleaded not guilty.
A class-action lawsuit is ongoing against the chemical’s producer, Eastman Chemical, and West Virginia American Water, the utility whose water supply became laced with chemicals.
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And in the criminal case, a community group is pushing for restitution for victims. The letter said $109.5 million would be the appropriate amount.
