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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Steven Gene Hensley, 36, was sentenced by Judge John Behnke in line with a stipulated plea agreement previously offered by District Attorney David Eyster, and accepted by Hensley and his appointed public defender.
Hensley’s sentence requires that he register for life as an arson offender when he is eventually released from prison, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office reported.
Hensley additionally was ordered to pay restitution for fire damages and firefighting costs totaling $354,138, officials said.
Hensley in December entered guilty pleas to 19 separate counts of arson instead of going forward with a schedule January jury trial.
He admitted to setting fires in various locations in and around the Willits area starting on July 4, 2011, and continuing through Aug. 21, 2011.
Eyster has previously cited the role of Cal Fire Captains Shawn Zimmermaker and Craig Dudley for their work in the Hensley investigation.
“The defendant had no way out of this one and he realized it. We have Zimmermaker and Dudley to thank for this,” Eyster said at the time Hensley entered his guilty pleas.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
In California, it is illegal to buy or sell sport-caught abalone, or any other fish or wildlife, because it leads to the over-harvest of the resource.
There is no commercial abalone harvest from California’s coast.
“The arrests remove another threat to California’s precious abalone resource,” said Captain Bob Farrell of the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Law Enforcement Division. “The illegal harvest and commercialization of our abalone resource can devastate the abalone population if left unchecked.”
In August 2011, wardens observed Nuanrat Musser, 44, of Cotati purchase sport-caught abalone at a Cotati massage parlor. Wardens maintained surveillance on the business and observed Musser make several more abalone purchases.
In September, wardens observed her as she resold the abalone contraband to Helen B. Macariola, 55, and Kritkaew McCulley, 65, both of Sacramento.
All three women were arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail. The case was filed with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, where each defendant will face three poaching-related misdemeanor charges.
Honest anglers and members of the public can help wardens stop poaching by reporting poaching crimes to California Department of Fish and Game’s CalTIP line at 1-888-334-2258.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The months-long process to unionize 219 Calpine employees at The Geysers geothermal power plant culminated in a two-day election on Wednesday and Thursday at Calpine.
The final tally of votes, which were counted Thursday night, showed that 124 employees had voted no to joining the union, while 70 had voted yes.
An additional 21 challenged ballots were not counted in the final tally, the union reported.
IBEW has alleged that Calpine management attempted to prevent a free and fair election, and used anti-union consultants to persuade employees to vote against unionizing.
Calpine said in a statement released to Lake County News this week that it had worked directly with its employees to provide industry-leading compensation, benefits, equity, career progression and safety programs.
However, the company also said that it respected employees’ right to consider unionization as provided under the National Labor Relations Act “in a process which assures employees make an informed decision.”
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The two-secret ballot took place on Wednesday and Thursday at Calpine.
Final tally of votes was 124 “no” votes and 70 “yes” votes, with 21 challenged ballots not counted in the final tally, as Lake County News has reported.
The union said the 21 challenged ballots were set aside based on claims that they were not eligible voters.
IBEW alleges that management’s decision to require employees to attend mandatory meetings with union busters from the firm The Alignment Group and to not allow union representatives on site compromised the workers’ right to a free and fair election.
Calpine Chief Executive Officer Jack Fusco also reportedly made several trips to the plant, as did other Calpine executives, who traveled from Texas during the union campaign.
The effort to unionize began last summer. IBEW said the Calpine workers were seeking union representation after a number of takeaways, including reducing sick leave and medical benefits. Those takeaways, the union alleged, coincided with skyrocketing pay for Calpine’s executives.
Workers sought representation to achieve a place at the bargaining table and to have a meaningful say in decisions that affect everything from compensation to safety and working conditions, according to a union statement.
At the same time, a strong opposition movement arose within the workers' ranks, with power plant operator Tim Janke operating a Web site, www.calpineunionfree.com, to advocate against the union.
Mike Farmer, a leading member of the 25 member organizing committee said that “fear won the day.”
“Even so, we proved that far more than a handful of our co-workers support the union,” he said.
Throughout the campaign, Calpine workers gained support from union members throughout the state. They rallied at the National Labor Relations Board office in San Francisco, the Calpine office in Sacramento and even met with Gov. Jerry Brown.
The effort also had the support of District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington, who wrote a letter to that effect to IBEW 1245 organizer Fred Ross on Dec. 20.
“I feel strongly that when both sides, management and membership, have a say in negotiating on policies and procedures that effect the working conditions, safety and benefits of the work force, it is to everyone (sic) advantage,” Farrington wrote. “As a result, the working relationship between the two is stronger and more productive.”
“These workers waged a courageous battle and against all odds and a stacked deck. They have worked too hard and for too long to go down without a fight,” said Ross. “We will continue to stand by them for the duration.”
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