By admin 
PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) – A former safety director at a Michigan hyperbaric chamber facility will spend at least 19 months in prison.
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Jeff Mosteller pleaded no contest Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper.
The child was killed when a chamber exploded during treatment in January 2025.
“Jeff had a wonderful rapport with Thomas. He cared for him a great deal. You could tell that Thomas was always excited to see Jeff and vice versa,” Mosteller’s defense attorney, Alona Sharon, said.
Mosteller is the first of four employees charged in the death of 5-year-old Thomas to complete the criminal proceedings. His co-defendants are the CEO of the Oxford Center in Troy, the facility manager and the chamber operator.
Mosteller was the safety director when Thomas died in an explosion during hyperbaric oxygen therapy in January 2025.
“This is arrogance,” Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwamé Rowe said.
The judge and the prosecution called the decision not to use grounding straps during therapy arrogance.
“It was incumbent upon you to say something, to say these grounding straps are needed,” Rowe said.
Patients wear the straps to prevent static sparks and eliminate fire hazards by safely releasing static electricity.
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“This defendant was part of a decision tree that decided, based on in the defendant’s case, like 30, 40 minutes of testing after work one day that he knew better than,” said Chris Kessel, assistant attorney general for Michigan. “Knowing better than doctors and scientists and engineers and safety experts.”
The defense attorney told the judge the facility’s practice of not using grounding straps was put in motion well before Mosteller came to the Oxford Center, but she said her client admitted he failed to take corrective action.
“I don’t think for one minute that Jeff thought he was putting Thomas’ life in danger,” Sharon said.
Thomas’ family wasn’t in attendance and did not issue a victim impact statement. The prosecutor said they simply aren’t in a place to speak on this tragedy. It’s too painful for them.
Mosteller also chose not to address the court. He was sentenced to 19 months to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
“I genuinely hope, and my department hopes, that Mr. Mosteller can use the time that he’s incarcerated to accept responsibility for his role in an incredibly, incredibly tragic event,” Kessel said.
Three other employees tied to this case are still awaiting trial. A separate civil case is also pending.
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