Former mine exec pleads guilty - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

A former Massey Energy executive pleaded guilty on Thursday, Feb. 28 to allegations connected to the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion. David Hughart is accused of letting miners know when MSHA inspectors were coming. The alleged conspiracies happened over a ten year period between 2000 and 2010. 29 miners died in the blast on April, 5 2010.

A very nervous David Hughart, wife and son, walk arm-in-arm into federal court as he entered a guilty plea admitting to giving Massey-owned Coal operations advance warning about surprise federal inspections.

Under oath, Hughart said, "I condoned it, I knew it was happening, and I let it go on."  Even though he pleaded guilty, Hughart's family said he was controlled by fear.

"I've been married to my husband for 36 years. He is a man of integrity and dignity and he was threatened numerous times to lose his job if he did not answer correctly," Karen Hughart, David's wife said.

Under oath, Hughart was asked who else knew about the illegal activity. He responded, the CEO.

59News crews checked and confirmed that Don Blankenship was the CEO of Massey Energy when the explosion at UBB took place.  We asked the family who Hughart was identifying inside the court.

"He was talking about Don Blankenship and I can guarantee he was talking about Don.  He threatened my husband's job on numerous occasions.  This was common practice, common practice within Massey that they notify guards and anyone else in the property and if you do not do that you are fired and you are black balled from the coal industry," Karen continued.  

Hughart's son also worked for Massey. "It was a common practice if you saw MSHA on the property, it was just a common practice, it was just something that everyone done," Jonathan Hughart added.

In court Hughart said giving advance notice to miners about surprise inspections has been going on for more than 10 years. A sentencing date for David Hughart was set for June 25 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Judge Irene Berger.  He faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine.

Hughart is believed to be the highest-ranking mine official ever convicted of conspiracy. Hughie Stover, a former security chief, was convicted of lying to investigators about the UBB explosion.He was sentenced to three years in prison. Former superintendent Gary May was sentenced to 21 months in prison and fined $20,000.