Thompson expects many more firefighters to attend the sentencing on May 22, where Melanson is expected to publicly apologize. J/ 10:50 PM / KCAL News COMPTON () Compton Fire Department Chief Jon Thompson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into compliance with key lifesaving. “It’s like a family business - terminating your brother or something.” “I’m not mad at him, more mad at what he did,” Deputy Chief Bryan Batiste said. During his 17-year career, he was considered a prodigy and well-liked. Melanson was fired from the department a year ago. “I really would only want to know so I could go back and notice certain signs of someone in dire straits, so I could do something about it.” “I have no idea why this happened,” Thompson said. The plea surprised a handful of Compton firefighters in the courtroom who were there to testify at what they thought would be Melanson’s preliminary hearing.įire Chief Jon Thompson said he was relieved Melanson’s case wouldn’t go to trial, where firefighters would be expected to testify against one of their own. “He deeply regrets that his actions have hurt his family, his friends, and those who he worked with, his fellow firefighters.” “By his plea in criminal court, Marcel took responsibility for his actions, for not only a violation of the law, but for a violation of the trust of the residents of Compton,” defense attorney George Bird said in a statement. Through a repeat buyer, investigators discovered that Melanson had been selling other Compton-owned radio equipment since 2008.Īfter being arrested in May 2013, Melanson had faced up to 10 years and eight months in prison. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators discovered that many of the missing radios were sold on Ebay or offline to private buyers, Rose said. Attention then turned to Melanson, who was on duty at the station the night of the fire and the only one with access to the radios, Long Beach arson investigator Pat Wills said. Investigators from the Long Beach and Montebello fire departments, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, concluded the blaze was arson.
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