Five officials were charged with involuntary manslaughter in an investigation into lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, on June 14.
They are all blamed in the death of an 85-year-old man who had Legionnaires’ disease.
Those charged include the head of Michigan’s health department.
Nick Lyon is the highest ranking member of the Michigan state government to be snagged in this criminal investigation.
Lyon, 48, is the director of the Health and Human Services Department.
He is accused of failing to alert the majority-black population about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area.
In 2014 and 2015, Genesee County saw 90 cases of Legionnaires’ disease, leading to 12 deaths.
Experts had linked the outbreak to poor water quality.
If convicted, Lyon could face up to 15 years in prison.
“Well, you know, it’s time to refocus the lens on the families of Flint that are still suffering as a result of government failure. Children have been exposed to lead and people of Flint have died, have died as a result of the decisions made by those responsible to protect the health and safety of families,” said Bill Schuette, attorney general of Michigan.
