CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was convicted Thursday of a misdemeanor count connected to a deadly coal mine explosion and acquitted of more serious charges.

A federal jury in West Virginia convicted Blankenship of conspiring to willfully violate mine safety standards. The misdemeanor charge carries up to one year in prison.

Jurors did not find Blankenship guilty of a more serious conspiracy charge included in the same count that could have netted five years in prison.