FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2012
FORMER BIG RIVER MINING EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR VIOLATING PROBATION
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Neil Hasen, 31, of Alkol, Lincoln County, W.Va., was sentenced today to six months’ prison by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
Hasen previously pleaded guilty in June 2011 to making a false statement on an on-shift examination form which is required to be maintained in accordance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Hasen was employed by Big River Mining, LLC, at the Broad Run Mine in Mason County, West Virginia, throughout February 2009. During that time, the defendant acted as an assistant foreman and signed forms indicating pre-shift and on-shift mine examinations had been properly completed. Hasen admitted that he was not certified as an assistant foreman and was using another foreman's number to certify that the examinations had been completed.
The Court originally sentenced Hasen in June of 2011 to a 36-month term of probation. Hasen appeared before the Court today in response to a petition to revoke probation based on his failure to abide by the conditions imposed by the Court.
In response to the petition, Hasen admitted that he had falsified an official document that he filed with the halfway house where he was serving a part of his term of probation. Hasen created the false document to make it appear that he had changed jobs and thus could not pay a portion of the cost of subsistence at the halfway house.
Judge Chambers remarked that Hasen had repeatedly been given breaks by the Court and yet had continued on a “course of deceit and defiance” of the conditions of probation.
Following his release from prison, Hasen will also serve a 30-month term of supervised release.
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