Contractor Sentenced to 10 Years for Asbestos Violations

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News Summary

A Denver contractor received a 10-year prison sentence for asbestos violations, highlighting risks in construction safety and exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

Contractor Sentenced to 10 Years for Asbestos Violations

In a striking case highlighting the critical need for safety in construction, a 55-year-old contractor from the Denver area has received a 10-year prison sentence. The sentencing was delivered by a Jefferson County District Court judge on February 16, 2025, following a jury conviction in November 2024 on multiple charges, including criminal exploitation of an at-risk elder and serious violations of the Air Quality Control Act.

The convicted contractor, Lance Slayton, was contracted to renovate a fire-damaged unit in a fourplex owned by an 82-year-old woman in Arvada. The events leading to his legal troubles trace back to April 2022 when the owner sought renovation services for her property.

The Asbestos Dilemma

Critical to the case were the asbestos test results returned by a licensed state restoration company, which revealed a major spill of asbestos throughout the apartment. Despite being fully aware of the hazardous situation, Slayton failed to inform a hired worker, Jimmy Gollihugh Jr., a completely unlicensed individual, who had started demolition work without any knowledge of the lurking danger. In a shocking twist, it has been alleged that Slayton even removed asbestos warning signs from the site, exacerbating the risks posed to everyone involved.

Asbestos, a proven carcinogen, poses severe health risks, including lung cancer, and has faced strict regulations since the 1970s due to its harmful effects. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stepped in to halt demolition on September 13, 2022, after it was reported that unsafe practices were in play.

The Legal Fallout

Slayton’s manipulative practices did not end there. He received over $71,000 from the fourplex owner for work he did not complete, showcasing a clear trend of exploitation of vulnerable populations. The severity of his actions led to concurrent sentences: 10 years for criminal exploitation and theft from an at-risk elder; along with four-year sentences for causing a hazardous substance incident and endangering neighbors.

Moreover, a hearing is slated for April 10, 2025, to deliberate on the restitution amount that the Colorado Attorney General’s Office seeks, totaling $85,000. Slayton’s actions opened the door for scrutiny not just on him but also on his girlfriend at the time, Christina Beckner, who was arrested for her role in the operation, including endorsing checks made out to Slayton.

Beckner has since pleaded guilty to theft from an at-risk adult and causing a hazardous materials incident, with her sentencing set for March 2025.

Public Health Violations

The case has drawn attention to numerous public health violations discovered during inspections at the worksite. These included improper removal and disposal of materials containing asbestos, underscoring how prioritizing profit over safety can have devastating consequences.

Additionally, Slayton’s record includes a 2023 payout of $173,000 related to shoddy construction work on a shopping center, illustrating a pattern of subpar work. This history raises significant concerns about accountability within the contracting industry, particularly for those servicing at-risk populations.

Call for Accountability

The case has caught the attention of state officials, including the Colorado Attorney General, who underscored the necessity of protecting vulnerable citizens and holding fraudulent contractors accountable for their actions. This incident serves as a breakthrough moment in the ongoing struggle against unsafe practices in the contracting industry, shedding light on the significant risks posed by ignoring safety protocols and exploiting vulnerable individuals.

As the dust settles on this convoluted legal saga, it raises critical questions about how communities can better protect themselves from contractors who fail to prioritize safety and adhere to the law.