Mine maintenance chief pleads guilty to falsifying record

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) – The chief of maintenance at a Kentucky mine has pleaded guilty to falsifying a record, in violation of the Mine Safety and Health Act.

A release from the office of U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr. states that Daniel L. Couch Jr. entered his plea July 13. Couch is the chief of maintenance at Ken American Resources Paradise #9 Mine in Muhlenberg County.

According to the indictment, Crouch did not make required fire suppression checks on the belt drive of a coal seal during a week in May 2016. A U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety & Health inspector checked the record book twice, and found upon second inspection the entry for that week had been changed to indicate Crouch had conducted the checks.

Crouch will be sentenced Sept. 17.

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7/19/2017 7:19:26 AM (GMT -4:00)