Yep, I'm asking a lot. I'm asking you to write an actual letter; you know, one of those old-fashioned things with paper and an envelope and a stamp.
That's because the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri doesn't have email or a Facebook page.
But it does have Judge John T. Maughmer.
I don't know if he has a pet.
If he does, maybe he knows the torment and tragedy of those days in 2007, when the food we lovingly offered to our dog or cat, to their great excitement, might have killed or injured them.
Two people are up for sentencing in this crime.
More on the flip:
Our own US Attorney's Office of the Western District of Missouri is recommending to the judge for the Millers and ChemNutra a sentence of three years probation (PDF link) and monetary fines of $25 K for ChemNutra; $5 K for each of the Millers individually.
Bernard Madoff got 150 years; for not killing anyone outright.
But, ya know, that's about money.
If you know a pet owner, or are a pet owner, in Kansas City, you might want to be heard from during the Chemnutra / Miller's sentencing hearing, as yet unscheduled.
This article has more:
"The Millers and ChemNutra look forward to putting both this case and this tragic matter behind them and hope that today’s enhanced awareness of food safety issues will prevent this from ever happening again," said attorney Robert Beccera, who represented Sally Miller, a Chinese national, and ChemNutra.
I'm sure they are looking forward to having this put behind them. And with such small fines (five thousand was easily one vet bill for a dog or cat who pulled through, even if damaged) and THREE YEARS PROBATION, it should be easy for them to shrug this off.
Dead easy.
You can write:
Judge John T. Maughmer, U.S. Magistrate
U.S. Magistrate Judge Room 7662
US District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse Building
400 E. 9th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106
And I hope you do.
I did it. Yes, in the 21st century, it's not as easy as clicking on an online petition or zipping off an email. But somewhere in your house, aren't there still some stamps and an envelope?
To speak for those who cannnot speak?