California accepts Volunteer Arsonists......?

Question

SAN DIEGO - A volunteer firefighter who helped battle one of last month's wildfires in San Diego County pleaded guilty years ago to setting several destructive wildfires.

Steven Santos Robles Jr. has been returned to prison because he violated parole by failing to tell his parole officer he had joined the Ranchita Volunteer Fire Department, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Robles is not suspected of setting any of last month's fires, state fire officials said.

"We have had no other problems with him until this point," said Jerome Marsh, a spokesman for the state parole department.

Robles, 30, pleaded guilty a decade ago to setting seven San Diego County wildfires that charred thousands of acres and destroyed about a dozen homes while he was a volunteer firefighter.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison but was paroled in May.

No background check was required when he was accepted last month as a volunteer with the department in Ranchita, a community of 160 peopl

Makes you really wonder. They stress so much on ethnic balancing, ect. No background checks for people who are out saving, well in this case destoying life. I'm amazed at how someone with ten years plus experience as a firefighter, can move to California, and be advised that California doesn't regognize training and or experience from anywhere other than Cali. What a loss, what a true loss for California....Except some possible illegal imigrant who is a convicted felon, and deny a hard working american with whom has years of experience and credentials from another state. Kinda makes one wonder.....

okay it was more of a opinion tonight.....Sorry, and throw in your opinion.....Have a great night....=)

Answer 1

Background checks should be done on any public servant. He may not have started last months fire but who is to say he won't start more in the future.

Ca should recognize training from all states but give them a course in Ca policies and procedures. They are truely losing good people with that requirement

Answer 2

There is no problem with the case of the firefighter because the past crimes are negligible at this stage since he is already a firefighter and no longer an arsonist.