Kurt Mix, left, leaves Federal Court with an unidentified member of his defense team in New Orleans, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, after he was convicted of one charge that he deleted text messages from his cellphone to obstruct a federal investigation of the company's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He was acquitted of a second charge. The count of obstruction of justice carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
December 18, 2013 - 8:11 AM
NEW ORLEANS - A former BP drilling engineer has been convicted of one charge that he deleted text messages from his cellphone to obstruct a federal probe of the company's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A jury acquitted him of a second charge.
A federal jury deliberated for more than nine hours before reaching a verdict on Kurt Mix's case Wednesday. The count of obstruction of justice carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Prosecutors argued that the 52-year-old resident of Katy, Texas, was trying to destroy evidence when he deleted messages to and from a supervisor and a BP contractor. Mix's lawyers said their client didn't hide anything.
Mix was one of four current or former BP employees charged with crimes related to the spill. His case was the first to be tried. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013