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You may have read our front page story from the Nov. 19 issue, “Lifesavers or desert desecrators?” The feature detailed the troubles of a humanitarian group working on the border. This summer, 13 No More Deaths volunteers were cited for littering after leaving behind water for migrants trekking across the desert illegally.

Staton in a Catholic Sun archive photo.

The Tucson 13, as some have called them, were in a way protesting the sentencing of No More Deaths volunteer Walt Staton, who was convicted by a 12-person jury June 4 of “knowingly littering” on Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Staton was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and one year probation.

The volunteer, unhappy with the sentence, has requested a to be re-sentenced. Staton maintains that he was “convicted for upholding human rights, and to uphold human rights, he must not complete the sentence given,” according to a press release. Judge Jennifer Guerin will re-sentence Staton this Friday, Dec. 4. He is facing possible imprisonment due to his refusal to serve the 300 hours.

“I invite the court to re-consider its sentence in light of the undeniable humanitarian crisis unfolding along the U.S.-Mexico border,” Staton wrote in a letter to the judge dated Nov. 2.

RELATED: “Dangers along the road less traveled: Desert deaths continue to rise”

“I am called as a person of faith and conscience to participate in the humanitarian efforts of groups like No More Deaths,” Staton wrote. “Our activities over the past six years have helped prevent the deaths of hundreds of individuals.”

He maintains that the location where he left the sealed jugs of water are regularly serviced “to replenish any water taken, clean up discarded jugs and other trash, and to continually assess the usefulness of the location.”

The humanitarian group is asking for supporters to send letters to the judge, pleading that Staton receive “no fines, no community service and no jail time,” providing the following link: http://tinyurl.com/nmd-guerin1209

The group maintains that “Humanitarian aid is never a crime.”

“Since 1994, over 5,000 migrants have died on the border,” wrote volunteer David Hill in a letter to volunteers. “In 2009, more than 206 bodies were recovered in southern Arizona.  Instead of addressing this human rights catastrophe, the United States continues to pursue a failed border policy that criminalizes those who cross, and is attempting to criminalize those who work to prevent their deaths.”

To learn more, visit the No More Deaths Web site.