Michigan DEQ Official Facing Manslaughter Charge Takes Plea Deal, Will Testify For Prosecution

[hatrack]

A plea deal was reached Monday for the fired former head of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's division responsible for overseeing Flint’s water source switch. In 67th District Court, Liane Shekter-Smith pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge that may result in 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. She agreed to testify against other officials in exchange for a reduced sentence.

If Shekter-Smith fails to cooperate in the investigation or obstructs it, according to the deal, she will plead no contest to a charge of misconduct in office, which is a five-year felony. "Her candor and truthfulness to date has been refreshing," Special Prosecutor Todd Flood told Judge Jennifer Manley.

Taking the plea deal was “unpalatable,” said Brian Morley, Shekter-Smith’s attorney, but “it helps her begin to get her life back.” Shekter-Smith can help with the investigation “because she can explain things so well” related to the crisis and how it happened, Morley said.

The former chief of DEQ’s Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance had faced a charge of involuntary manslaughter for a death in the 2014-15 Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the region. She also had been charged with misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty for allegedly ignoring mounting problems with river water source between April 2014 and October 2015 that were discovered to be connected to lead contamination.

EDIT

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/01/07/deq-flint-water-switch-official-plea-deal/2501476002/

[mountain grammy]

1. Thanks for the update.

Should be prison sentences all the way up to Snyder.