(TROY, NEW YORK) – An Upstate New York Court has accepted a Mine Manager’s guilty plea to manslaughter in the second degree, a Class C Felony.

Anthony Valente, a Mine Manager employed at a Grafton Limestone Quarry, admitted to causing Darren Miller’s death in October 2022 by recklessly disregarding and overriding safety features of a crane Valente was operating, which resulted in a piece of the crane striking Miller, a 35-year-old Mechanic, and causing his death.

The manager agreed to serve a six-month jail sentence and five years of probation.

The guilty plea follows an investigation into a Worker’s death at the RJ Valente Grafton Quarry.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) determined that Valente overrode a crane’s safety features when he used it to lower a replacement engine into a haul truck.

Miller was guiding the engine into place when the crane’s overhaul hook ball detached and fell on him.

MSHA found the crane tagged “out of service” during prior inspections, but the investigation into Miller’s death revealed Valente operated the damaged crane without repairing it. 

“Like every Miner, Darren Miller had the right to go home at the end of the day, but Anthony Valente’s reckless actions denied him that opportunity,” Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson said. “MSHA remains committed to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for Miners and will continue to use every tool available to us as we work with States to keep Miners safe.”

After its investigation, MSHA cited the Mining Company RJ Valente Gravel for failing to remove the damaged crane from service and for not ensuring Miller stayed clear of suspended loads as he worked to replace the haul truck’s engine. 

“Tragically, this incident was completely preventable,” Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said. “When employers avoid their legal obligations, the U.S. Department of Labor will use its enforcement powers to hold them accountable, including working with State and Local Prosecutors whenever we discover potentially criminal misconduct.  We thank Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office for partnering with us to address these unsafe work practices.”

“The Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to have partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor, MSHA and the NYSP in order to hold the defendant in this case criminally responsible for the death of Darren Miller,” Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said. “This case should serve as a reminder to those who profit from the Mining Industry that a failure to maintain safe conditions for all Employees may result in criminal prosecution.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Mine manager pleads guilty to second-degree manslaughter for recklessly operating crane that killed Grafton mine mechanic | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)