Ex-mine boss denied permission to leave W.Va.

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) — A judge says the former superintendent of the Upper Big Branch mine can’t leave West Virginia this weekend to attend his daughter’s softball tournament.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger denied Gary May’s request to travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., from Sunday through April 14.

Berger says May failed to establish good cause to support his motion.

The Bloomingrose resident recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the federal government for his actions at the former Massey Energy where 29 men died two years ago.

May is cooperating with federal prosecutors in a continuing investigation and will be sentenced Aug. 9.

He is the highest-ranking mine official charged in the blast.

Former security chief Hughie Elbert Stover is appealing his conviction and a three-year sentence for lying to investigators.