ANF Oil Spill Hearing
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
A preliminary hearing for one of the men accused of intentionally spilling 42,000 gallons of crude oil onto the Allegheny National Forest painted a picture of a man who wanted revenge against his former employer, and his son he "constantly harassed" about leaving the company.
The hearing for Christopher Horton also revealed the name of a third "person of interest" in the investigation.
Christopher Horton and his father, Andrew, are charged with causing and risking a catastrophe and related offenses in connection with an incident in mid-August when valves on tanks owned by Snyder Brothers were opened and oil spilled into Chappel Fork, North Fork, Chappel Fork Bay and Indian Run.
After the hearing, which lasted nearly seven hours, District Judge Rich Luther bound all the charges to court.
During the hearing, Christopher Horton's former girlfriend Nicolette Hallock testified, "He thought if he quit Snyder's his dad would stop harassing him."
She said that "his dad would constantly harass him about working there," adding later that Andrew Horton would "rant and rave and it was annoying."
Hallock said Christopher Horton eventually got another job that paid more. She called it a win-win situation because, Horton said, "My dad will shut up and I'll make more money."
The night of the incident – August 16 – Christopher Horton called Hallock and said "something really bad happened" and that his father was at the Kane state police barracks.
She said he didn't say what happened but said, "My dad, my f---ing dad."
Later, Trooper Daniel Moore testified that Christopher Horton was extremely irate and demanded to speak with father. When Moore told him that his father had confessed and implicated him, Horton told Moore he was lying because he father wouldn't do that, and he hung up the phone.
Police eventually found Christopher Horton and Hallock at Andrew Horton's house.
Moore also testified that Snyder Brothers provided police with a list of employees – some of whom were disgruntled – and that the only damage that was done occurred on Snyder Brothers' leases where the Hortons worked.
Also during the hearing, Ken Leet, a friend of Andrew Horton's, testified that Horton asked if he could bring his son's ATV to his house and leave it there for a couple of days.
Leet said that on Tuesday, August 18, his sister called to tell him that he'd heard on the radio that the Horton's had been arrested. Leete then called police because he knew an ATV was involved in the crime.
Dave Durolek, who worked in human resources for Snyder Brothers, testified that after Andrew Horton quit his job at Snyder Brothers he wanted to try to get him to change his mind.
"He was a helluva worker," Durolek said. "One of the best around."
But, he said, Horton was "ranting and raving (and) didn't want to hear anything I had to say."
He also testified that Andrew Horton said many times that Snyder Brothers hadn't heard the last of him.
Snyder Brothers Vice President Bryan Snyder testified that he was "pretty shook up" by the incident and said losses to the company are "in excess of half a million dollars."
Several people testified to the damage to the forest and aquatic life.
Thomas McMann, a conservation officer with the Fish & Boat Commission testified that the smell was nauseating and "would give you a sore throat."
He, and others, said the residue stuck to everything.
The spill killed about 4,000 fish including native brook trout.
During the testimony of US Forest Service Criminal Investigator William Mickle, the court learned that Eric Jennings – another former employee of Snyder Brothers – is being considered a person of interest.
Mickle said Jennings is part of the ongoing investigation and has been "deceptive while being interviewed."
Moore stressed that Jennings is not a suspect.
The hearing also included a 20-minute argument concerning the part of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution that says the defense must have an opportunity to confront and cross-examine witnesses. The Confrontation Clause relates to the common law rule preventing the admission of hearsay,
District Attorney John Pavlock argued that the clause does not apply to preliminary hearings. Luther agreed.
WESB/WBRR News Director
A preliminary hearing for one of the men accused of intentionally spilling 42,000 gallons of crude oil onto the Allegheny National Forest painted a picture of a man who wanted revenge against his former employer, and his son he "constantly harassed" about leaving the company.
The hearing for Christopher Horton also revealed the name of a third "person of interest" in the investigation.
Christopher Horton and his father, Andrew, are charged with causing and risking a catastrophe and related offenses in connection with an incident in mid-August when valves on tanks owned by Snyder Brothers were opened and oil spilled into Chappel Fork, North Fork, Chappel Fork Bay and Indian Run.
After the hearing, which lasted nearly seven hours, District Judge Rich Luther bound all the charges to court.
During the hearing, Christopher Horton's former girlfriend Nicolette Hallock testified, "He thought if he quit Snyder's his dad would stop harassing him."
She said that "his dad would constantly harass him about working there," adding later that Andrew Horton would "rant and rave and it was annoying."
Hallock said Christopher Horton eventually got another job that paid more. She called it a win-win situation because, Horton said, "My dad will shut up and I'll make more money."
The night of the incident – August 16 – Christopher Horton called Hallock and said "something really bad happened" and that his father was at the Kane state police barracks.
She said he didn't say what happened but said, "My dad, my f---ing dad."
Later, Trooper Daniel Moore testified that Christopher Horton was extremely irate and demanded to speak with father. When Moore told him that his father had confessed and implicated him, Horton told Moore he was lying because he father wouldn't do that, and he hung up the phone.
Police eventually found Christopher Horton and Hallock at Andrew Horton's house.
Moore also testified that Snyder Brothers provided police with a list of employees – some of whom were disgruntled – and that the only damage that was done occurred on Snyder Brothers' leases where the Hortons worked.
Also during the hearing, Ken Leet, a friend of Andrew Horton's, testified that Horton asked if he could bring his son's ATV to his house and leave it there for a couple of days.
Leet said that on Tuesday, August 18, his sister called to tell him that he'd heard on the radio that the Horton's had been arrested. Leete then called police because he knew an ATV was involved in the crime.
Dave Durolek, who worked in human resources for Snyder Brothers, testified that after Andrew Horton quit his job at Snyder Brothers he wanted to try to get him to change his mind.
"He was a helluva worker," Durolek said. "One of the best around."
But, he said, Horton was "ranting and raving (and) didn't want to hear anything I had to say."
He also testified that Andrew Horton said many times that Snyder Brothers hadn't heard the last of him.
Snyder Brothers Vice President Bryan Snyder testified that he was "pretty shook up" by the incident and said losses to the company are "in excess of half a million dollars."
Several people testified to the damage to the forest and aquatic life.
Thomas McMann, a conservation officer with the Fish & Boat Commission testified that the smell was nauseating and "would give you a sore throat."
He, and others, said the residue stuck to everything.
The spill killed about 4,000 fish including native brook trout.
During the testimony of US Forest Service Criminal Investigator William Mickle, the court learned that Eric Jennings – another former employee of Snyder Brothers – is being considered a person of interest.
Mickle said Jennings is part of the ongoing investigation and has been "deceptive while being interviewed."
Moore stressed that Jennings is not a suspect.
The hearing also included a 20-minute argument concerning the part of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution that says the defense must have an opportunity to confront and cross-examine witnesses. The Confrontation Clause relates to the common law rule preventing the admission of hearsay,
District Attorney John Pavlock argued that the clause does not apply to preliminary hearings. Luther agreed.
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