Wastinglittle time, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship filed a notice of appealthe day after a federal court sentencedhim to one year in jail and a maximumfine of $250,000 for a misdemeanor in connection with the Upper Big Branch minedisaster investigation.
Blankenship'sattorneys submitted the notice of appeal to the U.S. District Court for theSouthern District of West Virginia Beckley Division on April 7.
Theformer CEO was investigated following the explosion of the Upper Big Branchcoal mine that killed 29 coal miners in West Virginia in April 2010.
Blankenshipwas convicted on amisdemeanor count of conspiring to violate mine safety laws, but a jury clearedfelony charges brought by the prosecutors. Federal Judge Irene Berger sentencedhim to one year and an additional year on supervised release.
Inaddition to a number of technical appeals, Blankenship insists he is innocentof crimes that were prosecuted following the investigation.