Manager involved in 2011 explosion takes plea deal

One of two managers scheduled to go to trial next month on felony charges related to a fatal fireworks explosion in a former Navy munitions bunker in Waikele pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Friday in U.S. District Court.

Five employees of Donaldson Enterprises died as a result of the April 8, 2011, explosion and fire.

As part of a plea agreement, Carlton Finley, who was project manager for Donaldson Enterprises, pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of improper storage of explosive material. He faces a maximum one-year jail term and $100,000 fine at sentencing in July, at which time the government will drop the other felony charges against him.

The deal requires Finley to cooperate with the government, which might include testifying against Director of Operations Charles Donaldson and Donaldson Enterprises.

The company, Finley and Donaldson were charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and treating hazardous waste improperly and without a state permit by having the workers dismantle fireworks in the bunker. They were also charged with illegally disposing of fireworks at Schofield Barracks and lying about it to authorities.

Finley admitted that he had the workers cut open aerial fireworks that had been seized by the government, then soak the fireworks in diesel. In a change in procedure, the workers later cut open the fireworks, then poured the fireworks powder into cardboard boxes. Some of the powder ended up on the floor of the bunker.

“At the end of the day, the powder was swept up and put into trash cans to be dealt with later,” Finley said.

He pleaded guilty to storing a metal hand truck and other metal tools, that can spark, in the bunker with bulk fireworks and large quantities of black powder kept in six uncovered drums lined with plastic bags.

Robert Kevin Freeman, Justin Joseph Kelii, Robert Leahey and Neil Benjamin Sprankle died in the 2011 explosion and fire. Bryan Cabalce died at the hospital. All of the men were dismantling fireworks in the bunker.