The Latest: 6 plead not guilty over abandoned explosives

SHREVEPORT, La. – The Latest on charges involving company that abandoned artillery propellant (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

The owners and four officials of a company that abandoned 7,800 tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant in northwest Louisiana have pleaded not guilty to federal charges.

KSLA-TV (http://bit.ly/2ckRFWI ) reports that their trial date will be set at a status conference scheduled Dec. 13.

All six are accused of lying to get contracts to “demilitarize” the M6 artillery propellant, storing it unsafely and obstructing inspections on property they leased from the Louisiana National Guard.

All six are charged with conspiracy and varying other charges.

The owners are David Perry Fincher of Burns, Tennessee, and David Alan Smith of Winchester, Kentucky. The officials, all from northwest Louisiana, are William Terry Wright of Bossier City, Charles Ferris Callihan of Shreveport, and Kenneth Wayne Lampkin and Lionel Wayne Koons both of Haughton.

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3 a.m.

The owners and four officials of a company that abandoned 7,800 tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant at Camp Minden in northwest Louisiana are scheduled for their first appearance in federal court.

Magistrate Judge Mark Hornsby has scheduled arraignment at 3 p.m. Monday for the Explo Systems Inc. owners and executives. They’re accused of lying to get contracts to “demilitarize” the M6 artillery propellant, storing it unsafely and obstructing inspections.