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Blankenship's Attorneys Want Explosion Evidence Out of Trial

Attorneys for former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship want evidence about the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine kept out of his criminal trial…

Attorneys for former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship want evidence about the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine kept out of his criminal trial this fall.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the attorneys filed a motion late Friday asking a federal judge to instruct jurors that the trial does not concern the explosion that killed 29 miners, its cause or who was responsible.

Blankenship is charged with conspiring to violate safety standards at the mine from January 2008 until April 2010, when the explosion tore through the tunnels. The indictment does not specifically allege he was responsible for it.

Four investigations found that worn and broken cutting equipment created a spark that ignited accumulations of coal dust and methane gas.

Man Accused of Threatening Manchin Found Competent for Trial

A federal judge has found a man competent to stand trial on charges of threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.

Steven Anthony Major is accused of making at least eight threatening phone calls to Manchin’s offices in Washington, D.C., and Charleston earlier this year.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports that U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston found Major competent to stand trial on Monday. Johnston scheduled Major’s trial for Feb. 24.

W.Va. Prosecutor Wants Trial on Abuse Charges

A West Virginia prosecutor is asking to go to trial on misdemeanor domestic violence charges instead of participating in an intervention program.

Mark Plants is charged with domestic battery of his 11-year-old son. Prosecutors say Plants hit the boy more than 10 times with a leather belt on Feb. 22.

He also is charged with violating a domestic-violence protection order. The order required that Plants stay away from his ex-wife and their sons.

The Charleston Gazette reports that Plants’ lawyer asked a magistrate Monday to set trial dates on the charges.

Last month Plants signed the agreement to attend the 32-week batterers intervention program in Putnam County. The charges could have been dropped upon completion of the program.