Aghorn Operating Inc., a Texas-based oilfield company, and its executive, Trent Day, have pleaded guilty to worker safety and federal clean air and safe drinking water violations that resulted in the death of an employee in Odessa, Texas.
Aghorn Operating Inc. owns and operates oil wells in and near Odessa, Texas, in the Permian basin where oil reserves are ‘sour,’ meaning they have high hydrogen sulfide content. Hydrogen sulfide gas can be deadly at high concentrations.
According to a factual statement accepted by Day and Aghorn, Jacob Dean, an employee of Aghorn, responded to a call to check a pump at an Aghorn facility on October 26, 2019. There, he encountered deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, was overcome, and died. His wife, Natalee Dean, knew where Jacob had gone and started calling him when he did not return in a timely manner. When those calls went unanswered, Natalee drove to the facility. When Natalee arrived at the facility, she was also overcome while looking for Jacob and died.
Trent Day admitted that he should have controlled hydrogen sulfide emissions as part of his duties and that because he did not, he placed others in imminent danger of death. Aghorn admitted the same criminal negligence and to a separate charge that it willfully violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations requiring companies to implement respiratory protection programs to address hazards like those at the facility.
As part of their plea agreements, Aghorn Operating Inc. will pay a $1 million criminal fine and Kodiak Roustabout Inc. will pay a $400,000 criminal fine. Trent Day agreed to plead guilty to a Clean Air Act (CAA) negligent endangerment charge and serve five months in prison.
The guilty pleas and sentences were handed down yesterday in a Texas court. The case leading to these pleas is the result of an investigation into the deaths of Jacob and Natalee Dean.
Aghorn Operating Inc., Trent Day, and Kodiak Roustabout Inc. were charged with various crimes including Clean Air Act negligent endangerment, Occupational Safety and Health Act willful violation, and Safe Drinking Water Act felony violation.
Defendant:
– Aghorn Operating Inc.
– Trent Day
– Kodiak Roustabout Inc.
Criminal Charges:
– Aghorn Operating Inc.: Clean Air Act negligent endangerment, Occupational Safety and Health Act willful violation
– Trent Day: Clean Air Act negligent endangerment
– Kodiak Roustabout Inc.: Safe Drinking Water Act felony violation
City and State:
Odessa, Texas
Exact Date:
October 26, 2019 (incident date), and various dates in 2023 (sentencing and plea agreements)
Sentence or Outcome:
– Trent Day: 5 months in prison
– Aghorn Operating Inc.: $1 million criminal fine
– Kodiak Roustabout Inc.: $400,000 criminal fine
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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