Thursday, February 28, 2013

Does this constitute littering and was the verdict appropriate?

Does this constitute littering and was the verdict appropriate?
Do you believe we should prosecute these people? Could they also be charged with aiding and abetting illegals? If illegals cross the desert, should they not be responsible for themselves instead of these groups helping them? By Brian J. Pedersen Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.04.2009 advertisementA Tucson man convicted of littering on federal land said he will continue to leave out water for illegal immigrants walking through the desert, even if that means risking further citations. "We're committed to our humanitarian efforts," said Walt Staton, 27, who was found guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court of knowingly littering on a national wildlife refuge. "We're not asking permission from the United States to save people's lives. We never have, because we know they'd say no," Staton said. Staton, a Web designer and volunteer with the humanitarian group No More Deaths, faces up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine when he is sentenced Aug. 11 by U.S. District Magistrate Judge Jennifer Guerin. He was cited Dec. 4 for littering when U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted him placing unopened gallon containers of water in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge southwest of Tucson. It was one of dozens of times in his five years of volunteering with the group that he had left out water, Staton said. This time, though, Staton said a Border Patrol agent stopped his pursuit of a group of illegal immigrants to seize the water. "I was just trying to save lives," Staton said. "I was trying to end the death and suffering in the desert. The best we can understand, the United States wants to enforce the border by making the desert itself a deterrent." Staton's attorney, William Walker, argued during the two-day trial that leaving full, unopened water jugs out didn't constitute littering just because someone else later disposed of the empty container elsewhere. He told the jury of four men and eight women that, based on the prosecutor's theory, if they were given a meal in the jury room and then tossed an empty wrapper on the floor, it would mean the court was guilty of littering. "Just because something can turn into litter from someone else doesn't make it litter," Walker said. "His intent and purpose was for them to drink the water, not to litter." Prosecutors argued it shouldn't matter what Staton's intentions were, or a person's motives for committing a crime would matter in other cases. "Every bank robber would come in here and say they did it to save their dying grandmother," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Lee said. The verdict shocked Walker, who said about one-third of the jury pool was disqualified because they'd acknowledged sympathy for Staton. He said he didn't think it would be possible for those chosen to find Staton guilty. "What really surprised me, though, was . . . this trial must have cost the government more than $50,000," Walker said. "They say there aren't enough agents on the border, that they can't stop terrorists from coming into the country . . . and then they spend all of this time and money prosecuting a humanitarian who is putting out water to save lives." Staton is the second No More Deaths volunteer to go to trial on a federal littering charge. Daniel Millis was found guilty at a bench trial in September, though Walker — who also handled that case — said he has appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Walker said he also plans to appeal Staton's conviction, taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court if needed. Contact reporter Brian J. Pedersen at 573-4224 or bjp@azstarnet.com. low mo - you are one of the ones who likes to answer my questions but block me from yours, is this no hypocritical?
Immigration - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
" We're not asking permission from the United States to save people's lives" BRAVO! I think I will donate another 10,000 to help out his efforts. What a great man this guy is! You can't have more heart than that!
2 :
Yes, it's littering. It's kind of stupid for the government to waste time prosecuting this crime, but it's still a crime. I'd recommend Mr. Staton not leave plastic containers of any kind in federal parks.
3 :
yeah Kize, that low mow did the same thing to me so I just blocked it too. It is littering. Trash will create more trash if you get my point!
4 :
they only charged him with littering? why was he not charged with encouraging illegals to come to the USA. don't sweat mo, he has blocked me to.
5 :
WOW! prosecute people that are out there to save others lives.......now you are really getting delirious! When has saving peoples lives been considered "Aiding and a Betting"? MY ANSWER IS NO! to all your questions.
6 :
There was an article this last week about volunteers cleaning up trash along the immigrant trails in Santa Cruz Co. 3,000 pds of trash was removed. Not only is it littering it is aiding and abetting and he should be prosecuted for that also. He should be made to "volunteer" to clean after the illegal aliens. Let him see how much they really appreciate his efforts. The more you research and the more facts you put out here the more the illegal lovers will hound you. You'll be racist, xenophobic, a hate monger and what ever other flavor of the month. They claim the facts aren't facts because they come from groups who are against illegals. But the facts they get from group who do support illegals is the true facts. Write your Senator and Congress person and see what they have to tell you about illegal aliens and the cost. Maybe they are racist, hatemonger, xenophobes too.
7 :
Yes! They are helping non-US Citizens coming into this country illegally by disguising their efforts under the “humanitarian clause”. If they really want to save lives then they should go to Mexico and preach economic and cultural reforms to the people, private sector, and government. They should also preach birth control to poor people.




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