Blankenship Appeals Prison Sentence
While he appeals a decision that served him a one-year prison sentence, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship has paid his $250,000 fine. Blankenship was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum prison time and fine for conspiring to willfully violate mine safety standards at Upper Big Branch Minr. which exploded in 2010 and killed 29 men. He filed his notice of appeal Thursday to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Irene Berger declined to let Blankenship stay free on a $1 million bond while he appeals the case.