Don Blankenship, Ex-Massey Energy CEO, Denied Conviction Review

MONTCOAL, WV — Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was convicted of misdemeanor conspiracy to violate federal safety standards at a West Virginia mine where 29 miners died seven years ago. But he has contended that he's "more than 100 percent innocent" and that his case was tainted by emotion and publicity.

Natural gas caused the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, Blankenship said, and his trial judge gave jurors bad instructions and limited cross-examination. Blankenship who recently finished a year-long prison term, asked the U.S.. Supreme Court to review his conviction after a federal appeals court upheld it in January.

On Tuesday, the nation's highest court declined to take up the case, allowing his conviction to stand. (For more information on Blankenship's case and other Across West Virginia stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Four investigations concluded worn and broken cutting equipment created a spark that ignited accumulations of coal dust and methane gas.

Photo credit: Tyler Evert/Associated Press