By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cold Spring-based Griffin Industries Inc., one of the nation's largest animal rendering companies, is denying allegations in a federal grand jury indictment that it and several employees conspired to hide pollution violations at its plant in East Dublin, Ga.

"We can't wait to tell our story in court,'' said Kevin Murphy, Covington attorney for the 60-year-old family-owned company.

The six-count indictment, unsealed Monday, charges the company and six current or former managers "combined, conspired, confederated'' to discharge pollutants into Bay Branch Creek between September 1999 and last July.

Named in the indictment are vice presidents Thomas Griffin and Ricky A. Elrod, district manager Douglas J. Spritzky, Steven K. Horne, plant general manager; and Gregory E. Oxley, former general manager.

All defendants also are charged with five counts of discharging pollutants into U.S. waters - except Horne, who faces only one count in that charge.

The conspiracy charge would carry up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the individuals and a $500,000 fine for the company. The pollution charges would carry up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count for the individuals and a $500,000 fine for the company.

No arraignment date has been set, said Dan Drake, spokesman for the Southern District U.S. Attorney's Office.

Murphy said the criminal investigation was triggered by an affidavit by a former employee who claimed the company discharged pollutants into the creek in violation of its permit and added bottled water to ground water samples to keep them within acceptable limits.

Murphy said the former employee has since recanted the statements in his affidavit initially filed in a still-pending civil class action lawsuit brought by homeowners near the plant.

A lawyer for the homeowners said "hundreds of complaints'' had been filed over noxious odors from the plant, some so strong that they caused children to vomit.

One homeowner said the smell of decaying animals was "intense and revolting" from the rendering process.

In a statement, Murphy said: "Despite a magnitude of evidence to the contrary and numerous unsuccessful negotiations with government officials, we have chosen to go to trial and clear our company and employees of any wrongdoing as suggested by government officials.''

E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com