Please help. Quickly. You may remember the appalling story of 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez who died of heat stroke in 2008 while laboring in the scorching grape vineyards near Stockton. Her body temperature reached 108. This was not the only time Merced Farm Labor violated California's heat laws. They were fined in 2006, but never paid.
According to the latest newspaper report in the Stockton Record, the terms the District Attorney, James Willett, appears to be currently offering the people responsible for Maria's death a plea deal which is little more than a slap on the wrist.
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Stockton Record: No prison time in teen farm worker's death (Jan. 21, 2011)
Her employer, the company safety coordinator and the crew supervisor initially faced involuntary manslaughter charges.
Maria De Los Angeles Colunga, former owner of the defunct Merced Farm Labor, agreed to plea to a misdemeanor for failing to provide shade for outdoor workers. She will be on probation for three years, and she will serve 40 hours in community service.
Deputy District Attorney Lester Fleming said Elias Armenta, her brother who was the company safety coordinator, will plead to a felony count of violating a health or safety regulation resulting in the death of a worker.
That charge carries up to five years probation, 400 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
Randy Thomas, defense attorney for the brother and sister, said the court may reduce Armenta's felony to a misdemeanor after his probation is complete. Thomas plans to pursue that.
Maria's family asked the UFW and our friends for help and it is working. So far almost 10,000 UFW supporters have sent e-mails to the DA, telling him that jail time is a must and nothing short of that will satisfy the family or the public. Will you join them and send your e-mail today?
Doroteo Jimenez, Maria Isabel's uncle, told us:
"When I heard that they might get community service hours, I wanted to cry. After everything, this is what they get? They might as well have let them go from the beginning. Both of them are responsible for Maria's death and both should do time in jail."
Please send an e-mail immediately and tell the District Attorney, James Willett, not to set a precedent that farm workers' lives are unimportant. There must be serious consequences. Tell him that jail time is a must and nothing short of that will satisfy the family or the public.
In addition, Could you please ensure that District Attorney James Willett hears a strong public backlash by following up your email with a phone call?
Here is his contact information:
San Joaquin County District Attorney, James P. Willett
(209) 468-2400
Tell him not to set a precedent that farm workers' lives are unimportant. There must be serious consequences. Tell him that jail time is a must and nothing short of that will satisfy the family or the public.
It is important for us to get an idea how many calls go into the DA's office and have an idea of how they are responding so please, after you make your call, e-mail us at ufwofamer@aol.com and share your feedback with us.
Also, any way you could you help spread the word about this campaign to as many people as possible would be appreciated. You can click hereto visit our share page where you could forward the e-mail to family and friends and post this campaign on your Facebook and/or Twitter page.
Thank you for always being there to help farm workers!