City manager and former mayor of Elk City, Oklahoma gets prison time for exposing prisoners to asbestos, but keeps his job for now

A federal judge in Oklahoma City has sentenced Guy Hylton, Jr., city manager and former mayor of Elk City, Oklahoma, to six months in prison on a misdemeanor conviction for negligent endangerment. Hylton was convicted in August of negligently exposing inmates in state prisons to asbestos. See related story on Mesothelioma News. The exposures occurred during a renovation project at a railroad depot in 2003. The judge found that Hylton knew or should have known there was asbestos in the building before allowing the renovation to go forward. Hylton’s lawyer says he will appeal the conviction and hopes that Hylton will remain free on bail while the appeal is pending. Members of the city commission have decided that Hylton should retain his position as city manager until the appeal is resolved, so long as he is not confined and is able to perform his duties.

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