Former Massey exec found guilty of conspiracy in West Virginia mine blast

By Kara Van Pelt CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Reuters) - Former Massey Energy Chief Executive Don Blankenship was found guilty in federal court on Thursday of conspiring to violate safety standards at the Upper Big Branch mine, the site of a 2010 blast that killed 29 people. A jury in U.S. District Court found Blankenship not guilty of making false statements and of securities fraud through lying about Massey's safety practices. One of Blankenship's lawyers, Bill Taylor, told reporters the defense team was disappointed but doubted Blankenship would serve any time in prison. Sentencing was set for March 23. Blankenship, 65, faces a maximum $250,000 fine and up to a year in prison. The jury had deliberated more than two weeks and had twice told Judge Irene Berger it was deadlocked. Blankenship's lawyers did not present a single witness. The Upper Big Branch explosion was the worst U.S. mine disaster in four decades. Massey Energy was bought in 2011 by Alpha Natural Resources Inc for about $7 billion.