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Gunpowder Plant Owner Gets 10-20 Years In Blast

The owner of a New Hampshire gunpowder plant where an explosion killed two workers has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. Craig Sanborn, of Maidstone, Vt., was convicted last month of manslaughter and was sentenced Wednesday.

LANCASTER, N.H. (AP) -- The owner of a New Hampshire gunpowder plant where an explosion killed two workers has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Craig Sanborn, of Maidstone, Vt., was convicted last month of manslaughter and was sentenced Wednesday.

Sanborn owned the Black Mag plant in Colebrook, where the 2010 explosion killed 56-year-old Donald Kendall, of Colebrook, and 49-year-old Jesse Kennett, of Stratford.

Prosecutors say Sanborn was reckless in manufacturing, testing and storing the black powder and failed to adequately train workers.

His lawyer, Mark Sisti, has said Sanborn was out of town and noted the explosion could have been caused by various scenarios, including employee error or a stray piece of metal creating friction inside a machine. He didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentence.

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