Lady Justice
Lance Slayton, a Colorado contractor, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding an elderly woman and exposing a community to hazardous asbestos contamination, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced. Slayton was sentenced by a Jefferson County District Court judge following his November conviction on multiple charges, including criminal exploitation of an at-risk elder and violations of the Air Quality Control Act.
Slayton, who was hired to restore a fire-damaged property in Arvada owned by an 82-year-old woman, was paid over $70,000 to perform asbestos abatement. However, he employed unlicensed laborers, mishandled hazardous materials, and failed to complete the work, leaving the property unsafe. Investigations revealed that his actions violated air quality regulations, putting workers and nearby residents at risk of exposure to asbestos, a dangerous carcinogen.
The sentencing included multiple charges, with Slayton receiving 10 years for defrauding and exploiting the elderly woman, plus additional sentences for his role in causing hazardous substance incidents. A restitution hearing is scheduled for April, with prosecutors seeking approximately $85,000 in damages.
Slayton’s co-defendant, Christina Beckner, has pleaded guilty to related charges and will be sentenced next month. This case highlights the dangers of prioritizing profit over safety, especially when vulnerable individuals and public health are at stake, according to Attorney General Weiser.
