Colorado Man Sentenced Over Demolition Work on House

A man whose demolition work on a house in Pueblo, Colo., led asbestos to be released into the air has received a four-year community corrections term.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Monday that Thomas K. Tienda also is expected to pay more than $300,000 in restitution.

A jury convicted him of eight felonies in October.

Prosecutors say the asbestos was released in 2007. They say Tienda didn’t have the proper permit from the city of Pueblo for his crews’ work and that he hired homeless employees instead of licensed contractors to save money. Tienda also was suspected of reusing some of the asbestos-contaminated materials from the demolition.

Asbestos can cause lung cancer.