Colorado Contractor Sentenced to 10 Years for Causing Severe Mesothelioma Risk

A Denver-area contractor has been sentenced to ten years behind bars for knowingly causing significant asbestos exposure, putting his employees and residents of a multi-family apartment building at serious risk of developing mesothelioma. Lance Slayton was convicted of several charges, including criminal exploitation of a vulnerable elderly person and violations of environmental safety laws. His reckless actions began when he was contracted for a demolition job in a four-unit apartment building, where he ignored asbestos warnings and even allowed an unlicensed worker to remove the hazardous asbestos without proper protection. Prosecutors even alleged that Slayton removed the asbestos warning signs before bringing in the 27-year-old worker to check out the job site.

Slayton was hired in 2022 by the building’s 82-year-old owner to handle demolition after a fire damaged one of the units. From the beginning, he was fully aware of the risks as he received a report confirming a significant asbestos contamination and even discussed the necessary abatement measures with the owner and the insurance company. Despite this, he removed asbestos warning signs from the property and proceeded with the demolition without following safety protocols. Instead of hiring a certified asbestos abatement team, he brought in a 27-year-old laborer without training or protective equipment and never informed him of the danger lurking on site.

For four months, the worker unknowingly handled asbestos-contaminated materials, inhaling fibers that could lead to deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. At the same time, residents in the surrounding units were also exposed to airborne asbestos particles without their knowledge. The unsafe conditions continued until an engineer from the insurance company visited the site, noticed the violations, and reported them to authorities. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment intervened, stopping all work on the site and launching an investigation.

Asbestos was once widely used in construction, such as insulation and flooring. However, once it was discovered to be carcinogenic and a leading cause of mesothelioma, its use became heavily restricted, and strict regulations were put in place to ensure safe removal. Exposure to asbestos fibers can take decades to manifest in the form of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. Even brief exposure to disturbed asbestos materials can have devastating consequences. As such, the law requires strict abatement procedures and trained professionals to handle its removal.

Due to Slayton’s disregard for these regulations, which put his worker and the apartment’s residents at risk and defrauding the elderly property owner, the jury found him guilty of multiple offenses. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and two additional four-year sentences, all to be served concurrently. In addition to prison time, he will be required to pay approximately $85,000 in restitution and fines, with a restitution hearing set for early April.

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