Farrell May Plead Guilty

Prosecutors are asking a judge to schedule a guilty plea hearing for Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell. Federal pollution charges relate to the January 2014 Freedom tank leak in Charleston spurred a tap-water ban for 300,000 people for days. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says prosecutors generally file for guilty plea hearings when a defendant has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge or charges. Four ex-Freedom officials and Freedom itself have pleaded guilty to spill-related pollution violations. Ex-Freedom president Gary Southern has an Aug. 19 guilty plea hearing. He faces bankruptcy fraud and pollution charges.