3rd Person of Interest Named

All charges against one of the men accused of intentionally spilling 42,000 gallons of oil onto the Allegheny National Forest have been bound to court – and a third person of interest has been named in the case.

After a hearing that lasted nearly 6 hours, District Judge Rich Luther bound to court charges of risking and causing a catastrophe and related offenses against Christopher Horton.

His father, Andrew Horton, waived his hearing on similar charges last month.

But during the hearing, the defense learned that Eric Jennings – another former employee of Snyder Brothers – is being considered a person of interest.

State Police Trooper Daniel Moore stressed that Jennings is not a suspect.

Agent William Mickle, a criminal investigator with the USFS testified that Jennings is part of the ongoing investigation into the case and has been "deceptive while being interviewed."

The spill happened in mid-August and killed nearly 4,000 fish and other aquatic life, and caused about half a million dollars in damage to Snyder Brothers property.

We'll have more on today's hearing later tonight -- as soon as I get caught up. ~~A