Defense says ex-executive charged in spill isn’t flight risk

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Defense lawyers say a former executive charged in a West Virginia chemical spill isn’t a flight risk.

Former Freedom Industries President Gary Southern’s lawyers are asking a federal judge to dismiss a prosecution request to place Southern on home confinement with electronic monitoring.

Federal prosecutors say the United Kingdom citizen has minimal West Virginia ties and can leave the country on a private plane.

In a motion filed Tuesday, Southern’s lawyers say he will surrender his private pilot’s license until the case is resolved.

The motion also says Southern has applied for U.S. citizenship and, like many West Virginians, is a descendant of coal miners.

Southern, Freedom and five other ex-Freedom officials and employees face charges for the 2014 spill that tainted 300,000 people’s water for days.