AURORA — The owner of an Aurora company has been indicted on charges he removed and disposed of asbestos improperly and tried to bribe a witness.
Richard Oliver, 61, was indicted on four felony charges. He owns Kingston Properties LLC, a company that remodels homes and apartments.
According to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, Oliver illegally removed and dumped asbestos from four properties on Chester and Clinton streets from January to May 2008. The asbestos was dumped in a conventional trash receptacle, the indictment said, and Oliver did not have proper permits.
Despite being warned about the possibility of asbestos, the indictment said, Oliver put at least three employees in harm’s way by not telling them of the risks and not providing the right protective gear.
Oliver allegedly told a contractor that he would “hire a bunch of Mexicans” to do the removal for less money if the contractor did not want the job, the indictment said.
Reached by phone at his office Monday, Oliver denied the allegations, saying a worker he fired made up the story. Oliver also said tests came back that show either no asbestos or trace amounts at the properties.
“The allegations are false and baseless and were made by a disgruntled employee,” Oliver said. “There was no exposure, nothing at all. All the tests came back negative or trace.”
Oliver said he worked at the properties as well so that if there was asbestos there, he would have faced the most exposure.
He also denied saying he would hire Mexican workers to do the removal and disposal for less money.
“No such quote was made,” Oliver said. “One of my good friends is a general contractor and is Hispanic and works for me.”
One employee said Oliver tried to bribe him before the employee was to testify in front of a statewide grand jury last month. The indictment said Oliver tried to pay the employee to put the blame for the asbestos dumping on the contractor who filed the complaint with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The case has been filed in Adams County District Court. If convicted, Oliver could face up to 18 years in prison.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
