HONOLULU (AP) - Two charges are being dismissed against a man whose company is accused of mishandling fireworks involved in a deadly Hawaii explosion.
A judge on Friday acquitted Charles Donaldson of a count alleging he lied about completely destroying fireworks the government seized. U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway also dismissed a conspiracy charge.
Donaldson and his company Donald Enterprises remain on trial for other charges including storing hazardous waste without a permit.
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They aren’t charged with the 2011 explosion. But prosecutors say the blast that killed five Donaldson employees shows how dangerous the fireworks were.
Prosecutors alleged that Donaldson, who had a contract to destroy fireworks seized by the government, lied about finishing a job so that he could get paid faster. Mollway’s ruling says there’s insufficient evidence supporting the allegation.
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