A judge ruled Monday that Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon will stand trial on felony charges stemming from the Flint water crisis.
Lyon was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of misconduct in office related to the 2014-2015 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Flint that took the lives of at least 12 individuals, and caused dozens more to fall ill.
Genesee District Judge David Goggins said he believed Lyon’s behavior was “corrupt,” determining that Lyon was aware of the outbreak in 2015 and “had the ability” to know how many deaths were connected to the outbreak.
Lyon faces a maximum of 30 years behind bars related to the manslaughter charges and an additional five years for his misconduct charge.
Despite the ruling, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, said Lyon would keep his position for now.
“Nick Lyon has a long & tenured career in public health & has been a strong leader at the Dept. of Health & Human Services. Even during an unprecedented, nearly yearlong preliminary exam, Director Lyon has remained focused on his job & Flint’s full recovery,” Snyder said in a statement.
“Like every other person who is charged with a crime, he should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt…Director Lyon has my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at DHHS unless convicted of a crime after a full trial by a jury of his peers,” Snyder added.
Gov. Rick Snyder: “Nick Lyon has a long & tenured career in public health & has been a strong leader at the Dept. of Health & Human Services. Even during an unprecedented, nearly yearlong preliminary exam, Director Lyon has remained focused on his job & Flint’s full recovery…
— Ari B. Adler (@aribadler) August 20, 2018
“Like every other person who is charged with a crime, he should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt… https://t.co/XR8nO8aUn8
— Ari B. Adler (@aribadler) August 20, 2018
