Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Former Michigan Governor Charged in Flint Water Crisis Associated Press LANSING, MICHIGAN - Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was charged Wednesday with willful neglect of duty after an investigation of ruinous decisions that left the city of Flint with lead-contaminated water and a deadly regional outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. The charges, revealed in an online court record, are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The charges are groundbreaking: No governor or former governor in the state of Michigan's 184-year history had been charged with crimes related to their time in that office, according to the state archivist. "We believe there is no evidence to support any criminal charges against Gov. Snyder," defense attorney Brian Lennon said Wednesday night, adding that state prosecutors still hadn't provided him with any details. .