Owner of Michigan meat processing company pleads guilty to illegally employing minor who lost hand

Owner of Michigan meat processing company pleads guilty to illegally employing minor who lost hand

(CBS DETROIT) - A Michigan man has pleaded guilty after being accused of illegally hiring a minor who lost their hand on the job.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday that Darin Wilbur, 55, of Saranac, pleaded guilty to one count of employing a minor in a dangerous profession. Officials say a judge ordered a pre-sentencing investigation before sentencing.

State officials say the 17-year-old employee suffered an amputation while working at an Ionia County meat processing company, US Guys Processing, in November 2019. The teen was operating a meat grinder under Wilbur's supervision at the time of the incident, according to a press release.

The Michigan Wage and Hour Division received a referral about a serious injury of a minor, leading to an investigation. The division determined the teen was illegally employed and Wilbur did not ensure the minor obtained a work permit, which is required for workers under 18 in the state.

"Our labor laws were written to protect children from dangerous workplaces; however, they lack the teeth needed to properly hold bad employers accountable for violations," Nessel said in a statement. "This case highlights the need to strengthen these protections, as well as the consequences for violations, and I look forward to working with the legislature on this critical work to protect the state's youth."  

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