Owner sentenced for negligence

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

MINDEN -- The owner of a Northern Nevada aerosol can recycling plant where a deadly explosion occurred in 2001 has been ordered to reveal the felony judgments against him whenever he attempts to start a new business operation.

Douglas District Court Judge Michael Gibbons issued the order Monday against Walter Gonzalez. Gonzalez pleaded no contest to two felony counts stemming from the blast that killed a worker and left four others with serious burns at Depressurized Technologies International on Sept. 17, 2001.

Gonzalez was accused of willful disregard for employee safety and failure to provide workers' compensation insurance. He was sentenced last fall to 10 years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the form of medical bills and death benefits.

Gonzalez this year persuaded officials in El Dorado, Kan., to approve zoning for a recycling business without telling them about the Nevada blast.

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