Via New York Times:
The charges bring to nine the number of public employees criminally charged in the public health crisis, all midlevel bureaucrats or lower. Flint residents have been outraged that high-ranking officials have so far escaped any consequences.
But the Michigan attorney general, Bill Schuette, hinted at a news conference on Friday that charges against higher-level officials might follow, saying that investigators were “moving up the chain” and “going where the truth takes us, period.”
Those charged include:
Liane Shekter Smith, who led the state environmental agency’s Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance, before being fired in February. She is charged with one count of misconduct in office, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and one count of willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor.
Department of Environmental Quality employees Adam Rosenthal and Patrick Cook, both water regulators who misled information on the quality of the city’s water in their report. Both men were charged with misconduct in office and conspiracy. Mr. Cook was also charged with willful neglect of duty, and Mr. Rosenthal with tampering with evidence.
Nancy Peeler, the Early Childhood Health Section manager in the state’s Department of Health and Human Services; Robert Scott, a data analyst for the department; and Corinne Miller, a state epidemiologist. Prosecutors said the three employees learned last July of a spike in the number of Flint children with elevated blood lead levels but concealed the results. The three are charged with one count each of misconduct in office, conspiracy and willful neglect of duty.
Michael Prysby, a district engineer with the environmental quality department, Stephen Busch, a district supervisor in the same department, and Michael Glasgow, Flint’s utilities manager — were charged in April in connection with the lead contamination. Mr. Glasgow has since agreed to cooperate with investigators in exchange for reduced charges.