Clockwise from upper left, Dr. Eden Wells, Nick Lyon, Darnell Earley and Howard Croft (Photo: Detroit Free Press, Michigan Attorney General)

FLINT — Attorney General Bill Schuette charged two high-ranking state health officials today in the fourth round of criminal charges in the Flint drinking water crisis.

He also said he will be adding new, serious felony charges against four defendants who were charged earlier in the investigation.

And Schuette said that while no charges currently are planned against Gov. Rick Snyder, his investigation continues, and "we have attempted to interview the governor," but "we were not successful."

Michigan Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon is charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, both felonies.

More Flint water crisis coverage:

Michigan health director Nick Lyon, 4 others charged with involuntary manslaughter over Flint water

Flint water crisis: 5 officials face manslaughter charges

Criminal charges against top Michigan officials extremely rare

Watch: Manslaughter charges announced in Flint water crisis probe

Chief Medical Executive Dr. Eden Wells is charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer.

Michigan Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon is charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, both felonies. (Photo: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press)

And four defendants charged earlier -- former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley, former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality drinking water chief Liane Shekter-Smith, DEQ drinking water official Stephen Busch, and former City of Flint Water Department manager Howard Croft -- each will faced additional charges of involuntary manslaughter. Schuette said.

All of the new charges are in connection with the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the Flint area that led to 12 deaths after the city's water supply was switched to the Flint River in April 2014.

Read more Free Press coverage of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak:

Read the Free Press investigation from April 2016: Why were officials silent on Legionnaires' in Flint?

Here are all the victims of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint

Database: Search all of the Legionnaires' disease cases by county

Health department officials released a statement from Gov. Rick Snyder saying he stands behind Lyon and Wells, and that they would remain in their jobs pending trial.

Lyon, 49, of Marshall is accused of causing the death of Robert Skidmore on Dec. 13, 2015 by failing to alert the public about a foreseeable outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. It's a 15-year felony.

All of the other involuntary manslaughter charges also relate to the death of Skidmore, who was 85 at the time of his death.

Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells is charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer. (Photo: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press)

"Defendant Lyon was aware of Genesee County's Legionnaires' disease outbreak at least by Jan. 28, 2015, and did not notify the public until a year later," the charging documents allege.

Lyon "exhibited gross negligence when he failed to alert the public about the deadly outbreak and by taking steps to suppress information illustrating obvious and apparent harms that were likely to result in serious injury."

According to the charging documents, Lyon "willfully disregarded the deadly nature of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak," later saying he "can't save everyone," and "everyone has to die of something."

Chip Chamberlain and Larry Williey, Lyon's Grand Rapids attorneys, sai: "We are confident in our defense of Nick Lyon," and "the true facts simply do not support the prosecution’s claims." they said the case "appears to be a misguided theory looking for facts that do not exist," and Schuette's news conferences are prejudical and include false statements.

"We absolutely and vehemently dispute the charges," the attorneys said. "They are baseless. We intend to provide a vigorous defense of Nick Lyon and we expect the court system to vindicate him entirely."

Schuette said that he's heard from many people frustrated and angry that he has not brought charges against Snyder, the state's Republican governor since 2011. But he said he's also heard from those who feel he's been too hard on the Snyder administration, and charges are only being filed when the evidence warrants them.

Tuesday's charges, while they do not end the investigation, mark the end of one phase of the investigation and "a significant milestone," he said.

Former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley will face additional charges of involuntary manslaughter. (Photo: Jessica J. Trevino, Detroit Free Press)

Andrew Arena, Schuette's chief criminal investigator and the former FBI director in Detroit, said what he has found most shocking is that "people had information in their possession" about the Legionnaires' disease outbreak, "and just failed to act."

Charges were authorized Wednesday morning by 67th District Court Judge G. David Guinn, in Flint.

On the misconduct in office charge, a five-year felony, Lyon is accused of instructing an official to discontinue an analysis that would help determine the cause of the outbreak.

Related:

Wells, 54, of Ann Arbor is accused in connection with the obstruction of justice charge of providing false testimony to a special agent and threatening to withhold funding for the Flint Area Community Health and Environment Partnership if the partnership did not cease its investigation into the source of the outbreak. That's a five-year felony.

Wells also is charged with lying to a peace officer about the date she knew of the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. That's a two-year misdemeanor.

"Dr. Wells vehemently denied the charges and the charges will be vigorously defended," Wells' lawyer, Jerold Lax told the Free Press in a statement.

Former City of Flint Water Department manager Howard Croft will face additional charges of involuntary manslaughter. (Photo: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press)

According to the charging documents, Wells gave a statement to Schuette's investigators on April 12, 2016, pursuant to an agreement under which she would not be charged, provided she made no false statements.

Wells allegedly lied by saying she had no knowledge of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak until late September or early October of 2015, when in fact she knew about the outbreak in March 2015.

Watch our mini-documentary on the Flint water crisis, winner of a Michigan Emmy:

CLOSE The ongoing Flint water crisis has taken a toll on residents of this iconic Michigan city, who have been living with lead-tainted tap water for over two years. One Flint resident describes the experience as, “like being in war, but without violence.”

Wells was appointed chief medical executive in May 2015. She previously served as medical consultant to the department's Bureau of Epidemiology from 2004 to 2011.

There were 12 deaths linked to Legionnaires' disease during a 17-month period in 2014 and 2015 in the Flint area. Dozens more were sickened by the disease, a severe type of pneumonia.

In previous years, six to 13 cases were typically confirmed annually in the county.

So far, 15 current or former state or City of Flint officials have been charged, including two emergency managers who were appointed by the governor and reported to the state treasurer.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver issued a statement that said "manslaughter is a serious charge," and "it’s good to see that state Attorney General Schuette and his team are taking this matter seriously by bringing such serious charges against those who they believe didn’t do enough to address this public health threat, or to alert the Flint community about it."

Flint's drinking water became contaminated with lead in April 2014 after the city switched from treated Lake Huron water supplied from Detroit to raw water from the Flint River, which was treated at the Flint Water Treatment Plant.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials have acknowledged a mistake in failing to require corrosion-control chemicals be added to the more corrosive water. As a result, lead leached from pipes, joints and fixtures into Flint households.

Though lead levels in the water have come down significantly since the state acknowledged the contamination around Oct. 1, 2015, residents are still advised not to drink tap water without a filter. Many still rely on bottled water, which can be picked up free at distribution centers in Flint.

Five of the current or former state employees charged previously are from the DEQ. Three are from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

DEQ drinking water official Stephen Busch will face additional charges of involuntary manslaughter. (Photo: Michigan Attorney General)

Outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area following the water switch were tied to the deaths. Officials haven't definitely linked the water switch to the disease, but Schuette and his investigators have come close to doing so in public statements and documents related to the criminal charges.

Lyon was told in September by state investigators that he was a focus of the investigation, Lyon's lawyer Willey of the Grand Rapids criminal defense firm Willey & Chamberlain told the Free Press in October.

"We haven't heard from them for months," Willey said late Tuesday. "I've received no notification ... that anything is in the offing."

Snyder named Lyon director of DHHS in April 2015 when he created a new agency that merged the former departments of community health and human services.

Previously, Lyon had served as health director beginning in September 2014, Before that, he was the agency's chief deputy director beginning in 2011.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/2t1qdlv</s>Mich. Health Department Chief Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter In Connection To Flint’s Water Problems

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon and four other state officials face involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the government's failure to alert the majority-black population about Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area. That outbreak is linked to the city's lead-contaminated water and caused the death of an 85-year-old man.

The Associated Press: Health Chief, 4 Others Charged With Manslaughter In Flint 

 Five people, including the head of Michigan's health department, were charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter in an investigation of Flint's lead-contaminated water, all blamed in the death of an 85-year-old man who had Legionnaires' disease. Nick Lyon is the highest-ranking member of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's administration to be snagged in a criminal investigation of how the city's water system became poisoned after officials tapped the Flint River in 2014. (6/14)

USA Today: 5 Michigan Officials Face Manslaughter Charges Over Flint Water Crisis 

 Six officials were charged in all — five with involuntary manslaughter — according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. "We will turn to the prosecution of this investigation," he said in at a morning news conference. "We are confident that the charges that we have filed will be upheld in the courts." (Egan and Anderson, 6/14)

The Washington Post: Top Michigan Health Official, Four Others Charged With Manslaughter In Flint Water Crisis 

 While much of the attention in Flint has focused on the lead-tainted water that exposed thousands of young children to potential long-term health risks, the crisis also has been linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that contributed to at least a dozen deaths. Those cases ultimately led to the charges Wednesday for Lyon, as well as for the state’s chief medical executive, Eden Wells, who faces charges of obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer but is not accused of manslaughter. (Dennis, 6/14)

The Wall Street Journal: Michigan Health Chief, Four Others Charged In Flint Water Probe 

 Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the latest charges reflected the determination of investigators to hold government officials responsible for Flint’s water crisis. “There are those who assumed this would be swept under the rug,” Mr. Schuette said. “That arrogance that people would want to sweep this away, that there were nameless, faceless bureaucrats that caused this, is outrageous.” (Maher, 6/14)

The Hill: Michigan Health Director Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter 

 He also faces up to five years in prison for misconduct for allegedly instructing his staff to stop an analysis that would have helped to determine the cause of the outbreak. (Cama, 6/14)

The Associated Press: Man At Center Of Flint Death Case Lived There All His Life 

 Robert Skidmore was born in Flint, raised a family there and lived his entire life in and around the blue collar town that — next to Detroit — was synonymous with manufacturing of cars and trucks. But his December 2015 death has been blamed on Legionnaires’ disease and linked to a tainted water crisis that on Wednesday led to involuntary manslaughter and other charges against five officials, including the director of Michigan’s Health and Human Services department. Skidmore, 85, was one of 12 people to die from the disease and nearly 100 cases of people being sickened from it. (Eggert and Wililams, 6/15)

Detroit Free Press: 5 Officials Face Involuntary Manslaughter Charges In Flint Water Crisis 

 Health department officials released a statement from Gov. Rick Snyder saying he stands behind Lyon and Wells, and that they would remain in their jobs pending trial. (Egan, Anderson and Wisely, 6/14)</s>FLINT, Mich. — Michigan's attorney general charged two new high-ranking state health officials Wednesday in the fourth round of criminal charges to stem from the Flint drinking-water crisis.

Six officials were charged in all — five with involuntary manslaughter — according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.

"We will turn to the prosecution of this investigation," he said in at a morning news conference. "We are confident that the charges that we have filed will be upheld in the courts."
• The director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Nick Lyon, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, both felonies.
• The department's chief medical executive, Eden Wells, is charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer, also felonies.
• Flint's former state emergency manager, Darnell Earley, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. He previously was charged with felony false pretenses, conspiracy to commit false pretenses, misconduct in office; and a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of duty.
• Flint's former Water Department manager, Howard Croft, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. He previously was charged with false pretenses and conspiracy to commit false pretenses.
• The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's drinking water chief, Liane Shekter-Smith, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. She previously was charged with felony misconduct in office and misdemeanor willful neglect of duty.
• The district supervisor for the state Office of Drinking Water, Stephen Busch, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Busch previously was charged with felony misconduct in office, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and two misdemeanor counts of the Michigan Safe Water Drinking Act.

The latest charges are related to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in 2014 and 2015 in the Flint area that led to 12 deaths after the city's water supply had been switched to the Flint River in April 2014.

No charges are planned against Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Schuette said. But his investigation is continuing.

"We have attempted to interview the governor, (but) we were not successful," Schuette said. Snyder, a Republican, has been the state's governor since 2011.

Health department officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lyon, 49, of Marshall, Mich., is accused of causing the death of Robert Skidmore on Dec. 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a foreseeable outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

"Defendant Lyon was aware of Genesee County's Legionnaires' disease outbreak at least by Jan. 28, 2015, and did not notify the public until a year later," the charging documents allege.

Lyon "willfully disregarded the deadly nature of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak," according to charging document. He later is alleged to have said he "can't save everyone," and "everyone has to die of something."

All of the voluntary manslaughter charges are felonies that could mean a 15-year prison term and a $7,500 fine. Misconduct in office charges are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

"People had information in their possession" about the Legionnaires' disease outbreak "and just failed to act," said Andrew Arena, Schuette's chief criminal investigator and the former FBI director in Detroit.

Calls to lawyers for Lyon were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Follow Paul Egan, John Wisely and Elisha Anderson on Twitter: @paulegan4, @Jwisely and @elishaanderson</s>Updated on June 14 at 11:35 a.m. ET

On Wednesday morning, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon became both the highest-ranking person charged in the ongoing Flint water-crisis investigation. He and four other Michigan officials received the first involuntary manslaughter charges in the investigation as well.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office charged Lyon with involuntary manslaughter in court in connection to deaths caused by an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which many experts believe occurred because Lyon’s department failed to warn Flint residents of the dangers of their crumbling water infrastructure. His subordinate Eden Wells, the chief medical officer of the department, was also charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer.

Later, during a press conference, Schuette announced that he would be charging four additional officials, including former Flint Emergence Manager Darnell Earley, former state environmental official Liane Shekter-Smith, former Flint Public Works director Howard Croft, and state water supervisor Stephen Busch with manslaughter, in addition to previously announced against them. All five of the involuntary manslaughter charges, including Lyon’s, are linked to the death of Robert Skidmore, who died from Legionnaires’ disease in 2015 before a public outbreak notice was issued.</s>Several Michigan state officials, including those who reported to Gov. Rick Snyder, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a Legionnaires' outbreak that killed 12 people during the Flint water crisis, the Michigan attorney general's office announced Wednesday.

Charges were announced for five state and city officials, including Nick Lyon, the current director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley, who had previously been charged, also now faces involuntary manslaughter, along with three other lower-ranking officials, according to the attorney general's office.

Another high-ranking state health department official, Eden Wells, was charged Wednesday with obstruction of justice and lying to an officer.

In all,15 people have been charged as a result of the Attorney General Bill Schuette's ongoing investigation into the Flint water crisis.

Some of the charges deal with lead poisoning, and the reason the city changed its water supply, while others deal with the spread of Legionnaires' connected to the crisis. Other charges range from willful neglect of duty, misconduct and conspiracy.</s>Several Michigan state officials, including those who reported to Gov. Rick Snyder, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a Legionnaires' outbreak that killed 12 people during the Flint water crisis, the Michigan attorney general's office announced Wednesday.

Charges were announced for five state and city officials, including Nick Lyon, the current director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley, who had previously been charged, also now faces involuntary manslaughter, along with three other lower-ranking officials, according to the attorney general's office.

Another high-ranking state health department official, Dr. Eden Wells, was charged Wednesday with obstruction of justice and lying to an officer.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had no comment when asked about the employment status of Lyon and Wells, who are both still listed on the department website under executive bios.

At a news conference, Attorney General Bill Schuette told reporters the announcement is about restoring accountability and trust.

"That arrogance that people would want to sweep this away and that there are nameless, faceless bureaucrats who caused this and no one responsible is outrageous," he said adding that this is proof the system is working.

"It's hard to be surprised anymore," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver told CNN. "We've been waiting for some accountability since this crisis started so we're glad that justice is playing out."

In all,15 people have been charged as a result of Schuette's ongoing investigation into the Flint water crisis.

"Today's announcement that additional state officials will face criminal charges is an indictment of the state's failed policies that led to this crisis," Congressman Dan Kildee, a Democrat of Flint Township, said in a statement.

Some of the charges deal with lead poisoning, and the reason the city changed its water supply, while others deal with the spread of Legionnaires' connected to the crisis. Other charges range from willful neglect of duty, misconduct and conspiracy.

Wednesday marked the first time charges of involuntary manslaughter were brought.

Kildee noted that the crisis is not over yet. "The state and the Governor created this crisis and they must do more to help Flint's recovery."</s>The director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was charged with involuntary manslaughter Wednesday for his role in the Flint water crisis. The felony charge makes Nick Lyon the highest-ranking state official accused of wrongdoing as part of the criminal investigation.

Lyon is charged with exhibiting “gross negligence when he failed to alert the public about the deadly outbreak” of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area. The accusation — in the midst of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s Flint water crisis investigation — comes after months of speculation that the outbreak and subsequent deaths were a result of water mismanagement by officials. The investigation began in January 2016.

In 2014, Flint’s water source switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River. As a result, “the corrosive river water created ideal growth conditions for deadly Legionella bacteria,” Scientific American reported.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria that can be caught by inhaling mist mist from contaminated water. In a 17-month period between 2014 and 2015, at least 87 cases of infection were reported in Genesee County, where Flint is located. As of February 2017, 12 people in the Flint area had died of the disease.

“Lyon was aware of Genesee County’s Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak at least by January 28, 2015 and did not notify the public until a year later,” Special Agent Jeff Seipenko alleged in the written charges.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged Lyon along with former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s drinking water chief Liane Shekter-Smith and Water Supervisor Stephen Busch. Lyon also received a second felony charge of misconduct in office. Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells, Lyon’s subordinate, faces a charge of obstruction of justice and lying to police.

Including the charges filed today, 15 current or former public officials have been charged in connection to the attorney general’s investigation of the Flint water crisis.</s>Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged five public officials with involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday in connection to the ongoing Flint water crisis. Those charged include the state’s director of Health and Human Services, Nick Lyon.

This latest batch of charges is the fourth linked to the water disaster, which exposed thousands of Flint children to lead-laced water and is linked to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that contributed to at least 12 deaths.

As the water catastrophe stretches into its third year, Lyon is the highest-ranking member of Republican Governor Rick Snyder’s administration to get ensnarled in the ongoing criminal investigation.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Schuette has no plans to charge Snyder, who has faced calls to resign. However, Schuette noted that “we have attempted to interview the governor,” but “we were not successful.”

The crisis began in 2014, when state-appointed emergency managers switched the town’s water supply in order to save money. Flint was paying Detroit to pipe in treated water sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River. Emergency managers switched to using Flint River water instead. But they did not ensure that the water was treated properly with chemicals to prevent corrosion in aging plumbing. As such, lead and other metals leached from piping into the water supply.

After key donations, GOP tried to keep poisoned kids from suing lead makers Lead is a neurotoxin and, in children, can cause profound and permanent effects on the brain and central nervous system that lead to decreased intelligence and impaired neurobehavioral development.

Additionally, research suggests that the corrosion interfered with disinfectants in the water and released iron and other bacterial nutrients, promoting the growth of Legionella bacteria. Researchers have since found high levels of Legionella in Flint water. If the waterborne bacteria are aerosolized—say, in the mist of a hot shower, humidifier, or water cooler—and inhaled, they can cause a life-threatening type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease (named after a 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention).

Flint experienced an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease following the water switch, with a case count now around 100. Genetic testing has reportedly linked Legionella strains found in city water and those in patients with the disease.

Wednesday’s involuntary manslaughter chargers related to the death of Robert Skidmore, who died of Legionnaires’ disease in 2015 at the age of 85.

According to the charging documents, Lyon knew about the outbreak in early 2015 but waited a year to notify the public. That was too late for Skidmore.

The documents allege that Lyon “willfully disregarded the deadly nature of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.” He was quoted as saying that he “can't save everyone,” and “everyone has to die of something.” Involuntary manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Lyon is also charged with misconduct in office for allegedly obstructing university researchers from studying the outbreak. This is also a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The other officials charged with manslaughter are:

On Wednesday, Attorney General Bill Schuette also charged Eden Wells with obstruction of justice and lying to an investigator. Wells, the chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, allegedly lied about when she learned of the outbreak, saying she learned later than she allegedly did.

Schuette told reporters Wednesday that “the health crisis in Flint has created a trust crisis for Michigan government, exposing a serious lack of confidence in leaders who accept responsibility and solve problems.” The new charges are presumably actions meant to help reinstate trust.

In a statement today, Governor Snyder responded by saying:

Director Lyon and Dr. Eden Wells, like every other person who has been charged with a crime by Bill Schuette, are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Some state employees were charged over a year ago and have been suspended from work since that time. They still have not had their day in court. That is not justice for Flint nor for those who have been charged. Director Lyon and Dr. Wells have been and continue to be instrumental in Flint’s recovery. They have my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at DHHS.</s>Flint, MICH (WXYZ) - - Michigan Health Director Nick Lyon has just been charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office in connection to the Flint water crisis.

Dr. Eden Wells with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has also been charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says he will have an update on the state’s investigation into the Flint water crisis later this morning.

 

 In addition to Lyons and Wells, 13 people have been charged, including two former emergency managers.

 

 Today's announcement comes just a day after a group delivered more than 1,000 water bottles to Lansing as a message to the governor and attorney general.

 

 The group placed messages in the water bottles, detailing how the water crisis has impacted them, bringing them to the state officers.

 

 They say they are thirsty for safe drinking water.

 

 For more than three years, Flint families have been told not to drink tap water without a filter.

 

 As the state investigation continues, progress has been made to begin replacing the corroded pipes that caused the lead contamination, but families still want answers and a faster fix.

 

 Seven Action News will have a team in Flint covering this announcement closely.

 

 You can also watch a live stream right here starting at 11 a.m.</s>Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today filed new, more serious charges in the Flint Water Crisis investigation, but also said the case is shifting to a new phase.

"We will turn to the prosecution of this investigation," Schuette said at a news conference in Flint this morning. "We are confident that the charges that we have filed will be upheld in the courts."

Schuette's statement came after he filed involuntary manslaughter charges against Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health, as well as Darnell Earley, Flint's former emergency manager; Howard Croft, the city's former director of public works; Liane Shekter-Smith, the state's former top drinking water official and water supervisor Stephen Busch of the Department of Environmental Quality.

Those charges, felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison, stem from the death of 85-year-old Robert Skidmore, who died of Legionnaire's Disease in December 2015. State officials, they said, knew about the outbreak but refused to sound a public alarm that could have saved lives. At least 12 people died from complications related to the outbreak.

In all, 15 people have been charged with 51 counts. Two have plead no contest to lesser charges and agreed to help with the investigation, but none of the cases have gone to court yet.

Todd Flood, a former Wayne County Prosecutor who is serving as special counsel in the investigation, said today's charges stem from the deadly inaction of government officials.

"There are two types of people: those who give a damn and those who don't," Flood said. "I have run across many public servants who do care, but this is a case where there is willful disregard."

Andrew Arena, a former head of the Detroit FBI branch who is serving as lead investigator, said he began the probe thinking perhaps people just made mistakes, but concluded otherwise as the investigation continued.

"Many people attempted to do what is right," Arena said. "People didn't just make mistakes, they willfully and intentionally failed to do what they were supposed to do."

And Schuette said that while no charges currently are planned against Gov. Rick Snyder, his investigation continues, and "we have attempted to interview the governor," but "we were not successful."

Michigan health director Nick Lyon, 4 others charged with involuntary manslaughter over Flint water

Here are the list of additional charges announced today:

Michigan Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon is charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, both felonies.

Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells is charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer.

Four defendants charged earlier -- former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley, former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality drinking water chief Liane Shekter-Smith; DEQ drinking water official Stephen Busch; and former City of Flint Water Department manager Howard Croft -- were each charged with involuntary manslaughter.

All of the new charges are in connection with the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the Flint area that led to 12 deaths after the city's water supply was switched to the Flint River in April 2014.

Read more Free Press coverage of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak:

Read the Free Press investigation from April 2016: Why were officials silent on Legionnaires' in Flint?

Here are all the victims of the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint

Database: Search all of the Legionnaires' disease cases by county

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here is the full news release sent by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette this morning regarding five people charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Flint water crisis.

FLINT – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that he has charged Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft, as well as Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Drinking Water Chief Liane Shekter-Smith and Water Supervisor Stephen Busch with involuntary manslaughter related to their alleged failure to act in the Flint Water Crisis. Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and/or a $7,500 fine. In addition to the involuntary manslaughter charges, Schuette also charged Lyon with Misconduct in Office, a felony, subject to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells has also been charged with lying to a peace officer and obstruction of justice related to an alleged attempt to stop an investigation into the health crisis in Flint and later misleading investigators as to her actions. Schuette was joined at the announcement by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, Flint Water Investigation Special Prosecutor Todd Flood, and Chief Investigator Andrew Arena. INVESTIGATION INTERIM REPORT 

 With more than a dozen people now having been charged, and pre-trial hearings and other legal proceedings occurring, Schuette released the initial results of the more than yearlong investigation. Included in the report is a comprehensive look at today’s and past charges made, as well as a review of the facts and evidence in the case. NOTE: The report is attached to this press release. DEFENDANTS

 Multiple Flint-area residents died of Legionnaires’ disease in the time immediately following the switch from Detroit Water and Sewer Department to the Flint River. All defendants charged with involuntary manslaughter are charged in relation to the death of Robert Skidmore, 85, of Mt. Morris, Michigan. Skidmore died of Legionnaires’ disease after many others had been diagnosed with the illness, yet no public outbreak notice had been issued. The charges allege failure to notify and lack of action to stop the outbreak allowed the disease to continue its spread through Flint’s water system. NICK LYON

 As the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, a position whose duties are outlined in the Michigan Constitution, Lyon has a duty to protect public health. The investigation has shown that Lyon allegedly received notice of a deadly Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Genesee County nearly one year before he informed the public. After being informed about a potentially fatal health risk, Lyon allegedly deliberately failed to inform the public of a deadly Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak, which resulted in the death of Robert Skidmore. Furthermore, Lyon allegedly participated in covering up the source of Genesee County’s Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak by repeatedly attempting to prevent an independent researcher from looking into the cause of the outbreak. Charges:

 COUNT 1 – HOMICIDE – MANSLAUGHTER – INVOLUNTARY Did cause the death of Robert Skidmore on December 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan when he had notice that another outbreak would occur; contrary to MCL 750.321. [750.321-C] FELONY: 15 Years and/or $7,500.00. DNA to be taken upon arrest. COUNT 2 – MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE Did between February 2015 and May 2017, commit misconduct in office, an indictable offense at common law, in violation of his duty to protect the health of the citizens of the County of Genesee, State of Michigan and to protect the public health enjoined upon him by the Michigan Public Health Code, MCL 333.5111(1); MCL 333.5111(2)(f);MCL 333.2251(1): MCL 333.2251(3); and MCL 333.20531 and the Critical Health Problems Reporting Act; contrary to MCL 750.505. [750.505] FELONY: 5 Years and/or $10,000.00. EDEN WELLS

 As the Chief Medical Executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Eden Wells has a responsibility to protect the health and welfare of Michigan residents. During the course of the investigation of the Flint Water Crisis, it is alleged that Wells attempted to withhold funding for programs designed to help the victims of the crisis, and then lied to an investigator about material facts related to the investigation. Charges:

 COUNT 1 – OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE Did commit the common law offense of obstruction of justice by knowingly providing false testimony to a Special Agent and by threatening to withhold funding for the Flint Area Community Health and Environment Partnership if the partnership did not cease its investigation into the source of the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan; contrary to MCL 750.505. FELONY: 5 Years or $10,000. DNA to be taken upon arrest. COUNT 2 – LYING TO A PEACE OFFICER – 4 YEAR OR MORE CRIME INVESTIGATION After being informed by Special Counsel Todd Flood, in the presence of Special Agent Arthur Wimmer, that they were conducting a criminal investigation, did knowingly and willfully make a statement or statements to the officer that he or she knew was false or misleading regarding the following material fact or facts relating to the investigation: the date she knew of the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan, and the officer was conducting a criminal investigation regarding involuntary manslaughter; contrary to MCL 750.479c(2)(c). [750.470C2C]. HIGH COURT MISDEMEANOR: 2 Years and/or $5,000.00. STEPHEN BUSCH

 Stephen Busch served as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality District 8 Water Supervisor, a position which would have allowed him to order the Flint Water Treatment Plant be shut down because it was not producing safe water. In January of 2015, Busch was made aware of the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak, yet he allegedly represented to the public that Flint’s drinking water was safe. Busch was previously charged with felony Misconduct in Office, Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to Tamper with Evidence, and two misdemeanor counts for both a treatment and monitoring violation of the Michigan Safe Water Drinking Act. Charges:

 COUNT 1 – HOMICIDE – MANSLAUGHTER – INVOLUNTARY Did cause the death of Robert Skidmore on December 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan when he had notice that another outbreak would occur; contrary to MCL 750.321. [750.321-C] FELONY: 15 Years and/or $7,500.00. DNA to be taken upon arrest. LIANE SHEKTER-SMITH 

 As the Chief of the Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance at the Department of Environmental Quality, Shekter-Smith had the ability to order the Flint Water Treatment Plant shut down for failure to produce safe water. Shekter-Smith was previously charged with a felony of Misconduct in Office and a misdemeanor charge of Willful Neglect of Duty. Charges:

 COUNT 1 – HOMICIDE – MANSLAUGHTER – INVOLUNTARY Did cause the death of Robert Skidmore on December 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan when he had notice that another outbreak would occur; contrary to MCL 750.321. [750.321-C] FELONY: 15 Years and/or $7,500.00. DNA to be taken upon arrest. HOWARD CROFT 

 As Director of Public Works for the City of Flint, Croft had the ability to mandate changes to the treatment processes at the WTP to ensure proper disinfection was occurring, or switch back to DWSD. Mike Glasgow, former Flint Water Treatment Plant Operator, was allegedly pressured by Croft to start using the Flint Water Treatment Plant. Croft’s alleged failure to treat the water properly contributed to the bacterial outbreaks found in Flint, including the legionella in the spring of 2015. Croft was previously charged with felony False Pretenses and Conspiracy to Commit False Pretenses. Charges: 

 COUNT 1 – HOMICIDE – MANSLAUGHTER – INVOLUNTARY Did cause the death of Robert Skidmore on December 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan when he had notice that another outbreak would occur; contrary to MCL 750.321. [750.321-C] FELONY: 15 Years and/or $7,500.00. DNA to be taken upon arrest. DARNELL EARLEY 

 As an appointed Emergency Manager for the City of Flint, Earley was tasked with ensuring the health and welfare of the City. During his terms as Emergency Manager, Earley contributed to the decisions that allegedly caused the death of Robert Skidmore by keeping the City on the water source even as it became obvious the source should be switched back to Detroit Water & Sewer. Earley was previously charged with felony False Pretenses, Conspiracy to Commit False Pretenses, Misconduct in Office and a misdemeanor charge of Willful Neglect of Duty. Charges: 

 COUNT 1 – HOMICIDE – MANSLAUGHTER – INVOLUNTARY Did cause the death of Robert Skidmore on December 13, 2015, by failing to alert the public about a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Flint, Michigan when he had notice that another outbreak would occur; contrary to MCL 750.321. [750.321-C] FELONY: 15 Years and/or $7,500.00. DNA to be taken upon arrest. Acriminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charges five people, including the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, with involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the Legionnaires' disease outbreak that led to 12 deaths.