People v. Martinez

I respectfully dissent.

This case involves the calculated and systematic mass robbery of helpless migrant farm workers by professional bandits. The many victims were attacked in their isolated rural bunk house in the middle of the night, terrorized, robbed at gunpoint of their meager possessions. Martinez had predicted to his coconspirators that few if any of the migrant workers would remain to complain or testify. He was almost correct. Many of these victims—as Martinez knew—were undocumented aliens. Their fear of contact with authorities was an article of faith. Rather than come forward as a…