Kentucky Mine Analyst Pleads Guilty to Tampering Charge

The Kentucky Attorney General’s office says a former Kentucky mine safety analyst has pleaded guilty to tampering with public records, possibly jeopardizing the safety of miners.

Betty Whitaker, of Bulan, Ky., pleaded last Friday in Franklin Circuit Court to 28 counts of tampering with official records in connection with her employment with the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing.

Whitaker admitted that she falsified 28 reports on 12 different mines between October 2007 and December 2008, falsely claiming that she had made observations and spoken with miners.

Attorney General Jack Conway said her actions could have led to unsafe conditions and jeopardized workers.

Whitaker faces one to five years in prison.