Two former Ingham County officials charged with misconduct in Flint water crisis

FLINT — Two former Ingham County officials are among at least nine people charged in connection with the Flint water crisis. 

The Michigan Attorney General's Office announced charges Thursday against former Gov. Rick Snyder, as well as Jerry Ambrose and Darnell Earley, who respectively worked as Ingham County's controller and deputy controller for many years. 

More: Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder pleads not guilty as nine face charges in Flint water crisis

Ambrose was charged with four counts of misconduct in office. Ambrose worked as finance director for three emergency managers in Flint before former Gov. Rick Snyder appointed him to the position in January 2015, where he remained for several months.

Ambrose previously also worked as Ingham County's controller for 22 years, and later served as Lansing's finance director and chief of staff to former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. 

Ambrose's attorney, William Swor, said the allegations against Ambrose are untrue. He said they plan to vigorously fight the charges. 

Earley, who was charged with three counts of misconduct in office, served as a state-appointed emergency manager in Flint from September 2013 to January 2015. He worked for Ingham County from 1993 to 2001, first as budget director and then as deputy controller. 

The Flint water crisis began in April 2014, after the city began using the Flint River as its new water source as a cost-saving step while a pipeline was being built in Lake Huron. The water, however, wasn’t treated to reduce corrosion, which caused lead from old pipes to poison the distribution system used by nearly 100,000 residents.

Earley's attorney, Todd Russell Perkins, said two charges against his client were connected to allegations of providing misleading information regarding the quality of drinking water and the third was related to a violation of the Home Rule Act for authorizing more debt than was available. 

Earley pleaded not guilty and was released on a $75,000 personal recognizance bond on each of the three counts, Perkins said. 

If convicted, both men face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

Earley did not give the initial approval to switch Flint's water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint River, which is eventually what caused lead-tainted water to flow into thousands of Flint homes. However, he was manager when the switch became official in spring 2014 and oversaw the city as early warning signs arose. 

Snyder is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty by a public officer. 

Others charged are: 

• Richard Baird, a top aide to Snyder, is charged with extortion, obstruction of justice, perjury during an investigative subpoena examination and misconduct in office
• Nick Lyon, former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director, is charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter and willful neglect of duty
• Howard Croft, former Flint Department of Public Works director, is charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty by a public officer
• Jarrod Agen, Snyder's former chief of staff, was charged with perjury during an investigative subpoena investigation
• Eden Wells, former chief medical executive for MDHHS, is charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of misconduct in office and one count of willful neglect of duty
• Nancy Peeler, MDHHS director of maternal, infant and early childhood home visiting, is charged with two counts of misconduct in office and one count of willful neglect of duty. 

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.