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Man sentenced for leaving water in desert

By the Associated Press and Green Valley News
Published: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 4:27 PM MST


A judge has ordered a Tucson man to pick up trash for 300 hours after he was caught leaving jugs of water in the desert for illegal immigrants.

A federal jury convicted Walt Staton in June.

In addition to community service, Staton’s punishment is one year of unsupervised probation, a $25 fee, and he’s banned from the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge for a year.

Fellow members of No More Deaths, a pro-immigrant group, and other supporters applauded Staton as he left the federal courthouse in Tucson.

His case is similar to that of 13 people, members of No More Deaths and the Tucson Samaritans, who were cited July 9 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for dropping gallon jugs on migrant trails that cross the refuge in Southwestern Arizona.

Fish and Wildlife Service officials have called the arrests attempts to get media coverage.


The groups had contacted authorities before the arrests and told them where they would be and what they would be doing.



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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of gvnews.com.

Johnny Ringo wrote on Aug 12, 2009 5:01 PM:

" It's about time. Good for the judge. "

C. Gordon wrote on Aug 12, 2009 5:11 PM:

" Finally, a court on the side of the legal Americans. The only way to stop the deaths is to stop the people ever getting across the border into the desert. "

jrice wrote on Aug 13, 2009 1:28 AM:

" Gordn would be happy w/my favorite British misanthrope: "If they're going to die, then let them do it, and decrease the surplus population." "

Jean Pace wrote on Aug 13, 2009 7:31 AM:

" How sad that a compassionate young man is punished for caring about people who might risk death in our deserts...that people have to sneak across our border just to find work to buy clothes for their children or food for their parents....that we cannot share some of our wealth with our neighbors. "

Aine Ruiseal wrote on Aug 13, 2009 7:33 AM:

" Probably all the above commenters go to church every Sunday and view themselves as good Christians. God will have a place in heaven for Menbers of No more Deaths - and the right wing zealots who think they own our country will go to a place where there is no water! "

Jane Horton-Leasman wrote on Aug 13, 2009 7:34 AM:

" BIG FREAKING DEAL! DID YOU SEE THE SMIRK ON HIS FACE....WHAT A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY EVEN GOING THROUGH THIS FACADE OF A "TRIAL!!".

This won't change anything! "

Nolonger Minority wrote on Aug 13, 2009 8:13 AM:

" So we have come to realize that the fence does not work... what a surprise! Water in the desert or no water they will continue to cross like they have been for decades. It's not the jugs of water that bother people, its the help the Samaritans are providing to a different race. Ask yourself what is more important. Saving lives...or leaving jugs of water where no one will see them? A racist will think twice. "

Liz P. wrote on Aug 13, 2009 12:16 PM:

" Why doesn't the govt hire these immigrants to pick up trash for a win-win solution? "

Carl LaFong wrote on Aug 13, 2009 2:34 PM:

" "Ask yourself what is more important. Saving lives...or leaving jugs of water where no one will see them? A racist will think twice. "

So I asked myself, and I answered, "How screwed up does your mind have to be if you think obeying the law is racist?." Racist this, racist that. Over-used term. Doesn't even register with me anymore. "

GV resident wrote on Aug 13, 2009 4:28 PM:

" Are you people serious?

Why is this man being singled out when the US Gov't, and the millions of Americans who employ these 20 million plus people, allow them to enter and stay in the US illegally?

You know, his fine doesn't satisfy his crime. I suggest he be made to bury the 200+ bodies found in the desert who die from lack of water each year. That will show him. "

Clement R Knorr wrote on Aug 13, 2009 4:38 PM:

" I generally view myself as consevrative as Louis XIV. Despite that, I remain unable to understand how a person wanting to make a living for himself and family can be considered "illegal". Even more amazing to me is how someone attempting to save the life a fellow human being can be convicted of a crime. Study, analyze, think carefully and perhaps you too will become pro-liberty, anti-state and anti-war. I'm an old man and I'm finally getting it! "

NO MORE WETS wrote on Aug 14, 2009 12:38 AM:

" This "man" is lucky he wasn't charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of a crime...one charge per container of water going to these criminal aliens. Maybe I'll start looking for this water and dose it with X-Lax... "

Jack M. wrote on Aug 14, 2009 5:46 AM:

" May you pitiful hard-hearts be spared meeting someone in the last stages of dehydration. It is not a pleasant experience. Ask any Border Patrol agent who, like one I know, found a woman and her baby dying under a palo verde. "

Crippled Dogma wrote on Aug 14, 2009 6:30 AM:

" Clement, well put! Read his last three sentences three times! Learn it, APPLY IT! "

Paolo Presta wrote on Aug 14, 2009 6:57 AM:

" Has the courts forgotten this; Good Samaritan laws in the United States are laws or acts protecting from liability those who choose to aid others who are injured or ill." They are intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted.
Since our government stands by and does nothing to keep those who come across the boarder illegally should we allow them to die for it? Where is our compassion? Our compassion dies just as easily as those who cross and do not find water. Just so yo know I'm not part of this organization. I'm an American who really cares. "

George wrote on Aug 19, 2009 9:34 AM:

" No sane person really wants to impose the death penalty for illegal border crossing, but hatred can make an otherwise healthy person crazy. "

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