Ex-Michigan health director Nick Lyon faces 136 years in jail after being hit with nine counts of manslaughter over Flint water crisis  

Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is charged with willful neglect in the seven-year water crises in the city of Flint which caused dozens of deaths and scores withLegionnaires desease

The charges against former health director Nick Lyon and ex-Gov. Rick Snyder come as as prosecutors revisit how Flint’s water was contaminated with lead

The involuntary manslaughter charges against Lyon were unveiled Thursday, and stem from the deaths of nine people who contracted Legionnaires’ disease

Eden Wells, former Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is also charged with nine counts of Involuntary Manslaughter, two counts Misconduct in Office and one count of Willful Neglect of Duty

She has attracted the heaviest possible reistitution, facing a total of 146 years in jail and $88,500 in fines

Darnell Earley, Gov Synder’s hand picked Emergency Manager of Flint, is charged with misconduct in office for a total Faces up to 15 yers in jail and $30,000 in fines, if he is convicted

Lyon pled not guilty during an appearance in Genesee County Court
as did his old boss, former Gov. Snyder, who pled not guilty to misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty in Flint

No governor or former governor in Michigan’s 184-year history had been charged with crimes related to their time in that office

Nine current and former Michigan state officials have been charged with a total of 42 criminal counts related to ‘the historic injustice’ of the Flint water crisis

The controversial state control laws that enable Michigan’s for governor Michigan’s former Richard snyder to appoint his hand picked lieutenants to take over usurp the constitutional powers of elected officials in selected areas most likely claim the scalps of the authors.
The state’s former Heath Director, Nick Lyon has been charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the Flint water crisis.
Ex-state governor, Rick Snyder, for his part in the dealy debacle has been charged with willful neglect.
The charges against the two former state officials come as prosecutors revisit how Flint’s water system was contaminated with lead and bacteria during one of worst human-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.
The involuntary manslaughter charges against Lyon unveiled Thursday, stem from the deaths of nine people who contracted Legionnaires’ disease as a result of the crisis.
Former state medical executive, Eden Wells, was also charged in the case.
Lyon pleaded not guilty during an appearance in Genesee County Court earlier Thursday morning.
Each count of the involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $7,500 fine.

Moments later, it was the turn of his former boss, former Gov. Richard Snyder, to plead not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty in Flint. The first time in Michigan’s 184-year history that a governor or former governor in had been charged with crimes related to their time in that office, according to the state archivist. 
The charges against Snyder carry up to a year in jail each and a $1,000 fine upon conviction.
Nine current and former state officials in Michigan have been charged with a total of 42 criminal counts ‘related to a series of alleged actions and inactions that created the historic injustice’ of the Flint water crisis, prosecutors said – including some former members of Snyder’s administration 

The charges against Lyon and Synder come as as prosecutors revisit how Flint’s water system was contaminated with lead and bacteria during one of worst human-made environmental disasters in U.S. history.
Flint’s troubles began in 2014 after the predominantly African-American city switched its water supply to the Flint River from Lake Huron to cut costs.
Corrosive river water caused lead to leach from pipes, tainting the drinking water and causing an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.
The contamination also prompted several lawsuits from parents who said their children were showing dangerously high blood levels of lead, which can cause development disorders, metal that can be toxic and children are especially vulnerable.
Authorities counted at least 90 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Genesee County during the water switch, including 12 deaths. 
Experts later found there was not enough chlorine in Flint’s water-treatment system to control legionella bacteria, which can trigger a severe form of pneumonia when spread through misting and cooling systems.

A civil settlement of more than $600 million was reached with victims of the water crisis in August 2020 and is awaiting court approval.
In response to the charges against Snyder Wednesday night, his defense attorney Brian Lennon said: ‘We believe there is no evidence to support any criminal charges against Gov. Snyder.’
Snyder, a Republican, was governor from 2011 through 2018. The date of his alleged crimes in Flint are listed as April 25, 2014 – the day the city switched water systems. 
Snyder has repeatedly apologized for the state’s poor handling of the crisis, but his lawyer, Lennon, has said any prosecution of the former governor would be politically motivated.
‘It is outrageous to think any criminal charges would be filed against Governor Snyder. Any charges would be meritless,’ Lennon said. 

The latest charges all stem from evidence presented to Judge David Newblatt, who served as a secret one-person grand jury. 
Special prosecutor Fadwa Hammoud of the attorney general’s office declined to offer details during a news conference but said Snyder had ‘failed to protect the health and safety’ of Flint’s nearly 100,000 residents.
‘Let me start by saying the Flint water crisis is not some relic of the past,” Michigan Hammoud says..
Observing that ‘at this very moment the people of Flint continue to suffer from the categorical failure of public officials at all levels of government who trampled upon their trust and evaded accountability for far too long.
‘There are no velvet ropes in our criminal justice system,’ Hammoud added. ‘Nobody, no matter how powerful or well-connected, is above accountability when they commit a crime.’

Wearing a mask, Snyder, 62, said little during his brief hearing, which was conducted by video. He replied, ‘Yes, your honor,’ when asked if he was living in Michigan.
Lyon, meanwhile, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Defense attorney Chip Chamberlain said Lyon relied on the advice of experts when following the Legionnaires’ spike and forming public policy as head of a sprawling health agency.
‘This is a dangerous day for state employees,’ Chamberlain said of the charges against his client.
This is the second time that Lyon has been charged with manslaughter, but the earlier case involved only two deaths. 
He was accused in 2017 of failing to timely warn the public about the outbreak but the case was dropped by prosecutors when they decided to take a fresh look at evidence. 
Experts later found there was not enough chlorine in Flint’s water-treatment system to control legionella bacteria, which can trigger a severe form of pneumonia when spread through misting and cooling systems

In total nine former Michigan officials have been charged with a total of 42 criminal counts ‘related to a series of alleged actions and inactions that created the historic injustice’ of the Flint water crisis. 
Former MDHHS Medical Executive Eden Wells was arraigned in court this morning on nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of misconduct in office and one count of neglect of duty.
Wells has entered a please of not guilty and was issued $200,000 bond with stipulations that she must surrender her passport within the next 24 hours, will continue to reside in the state of Maine, must appear in any and all court appearances. 
Also charged in the scandal is former Emergency Manager of Flint, Darnell Earley, who has been charged with misconduct in office. 
Rich Baird, a friend and close adviser to Snyder, was charged with extortion, perjury and obstruction of justice. Jarrod Agen, who was communications director before going to work for Vice President Mike Pence, was charged with perjury. He subsequently left government for a job with a defense contractor.

Former MDHHS Medical Executive Eden Wells was arraigned in court this morning on nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of misconduct in office and one count of neglect of duty.
Snared in the scandal as well, former Emergency Manager of Flint, Darnell Earley, has been charged with misconduct in office.
Rich Baird, a friend and close adviser to Snyder, was charged with extortion, perjury and obstruction of justice.
Aslso charged, Jarrod Agen who was communications director before going to work for Vice President Mike Pence, was charged with perjury 

The criminal investigation has lasted five years under two teams of prosecutors. 
Todd Flood, who got misdemeanor convictions from seven people, was ousted in 2019 after the election of Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat.
She turned to Hammoud and Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy, who subsequently dropped charges in eight pending cases and said the investigation would start over.
They said the first team had failed to collect all available evidence.Separately, the state, Flint, a hospital and an engineering firm have agreed to a $641 million settlement with residents over the water crisis.
A judge said she hopes to decide by January 21 whether to grant preliminary approval. Other lawsuits, including one against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are pending.
Today, tests show that Flint’s water is safe to drink but many residents, skeptical of government officials, say they still don’t trust the city’s water. 

Rogue’s gallery of personse charged in Flint Water Crises:

Richard Snyder, former Governor of Michigan:
Two counts of Willful Neglect of Duty, each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine 
Jarrod Agen, former Director of Communications and former Chief of Staff, Executive Office of Gov. Rick Snyder: 
One count of Perjury, a 15-year felony.
Gerald Ambrose, former City of Flint Emergency Manager:
Four counts Misconduct in Office with a five year sentence on each count, and/or $10,000 fine.
Richard Baird, former Transformation Manager and Senior Adviser, Executive Office of Gov. Snyder:
One count of Perjury, a 15-year felony
One count of Official Misconduct in Office, a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
One count of Obstruction of Justice, a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
One count of Extortion, a 20-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
Howard Croft, former Director of the City of Flint Department of Public Works:
Two counts of Willful Neglect of Duty, each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.
Darnell Earley, former City of Flint Emergency Manager:
Three counts of Misconduct in Office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
Nicolas Lyon, former Director, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:
Nine counts of Involuntary Manslaughter, each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine.
One count of Willful Neglect of Duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine 

Nancy Peeler. Current Early Childhood Health Section Manager, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:
Two counts of Misconduct in Office – each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
One count of Willful Neglect of Duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine
Eden Wells. Former Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:
Nine counts of Involuntary Manslaughter, each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine.
Two counts of Misconduct in Office, each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.
One count of Willful Neglect of Duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine‘.