Former Executive Enters Guilty Pleas In Connection With Hazardous Materials Blast In Ventura County

Prosecutors say a former manager at a wastewater treatment facility in Ventura County which was the scene of a hazardous material explosion, and fire pled guilty to some criminal charges. Marlene Faltemier was Human Resources Manager for the Santa Clara Waste Water Company.

In November of 2014, there was an explosion at the company’s facility near Santa Paula. Dozens of people were injured by the blast, and hazardous material fumes. Ventura County prosecutors say before the accident, Faltemier conspired with other company officials to hide the presence of hazardous chemicals from government inspectors.

And, they say she failed to make full disclosure of what she knew was on hand at the site after the blast. Prosecutors say she pled guilty to two felony and two misdemeanor charges. She’s set to be sentenced next month.

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Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.