Jalisco President Free After Serving 16-Day Jail Term

The president of now-defunct Jalisco Mexican Products Inc. was released from Los Angeles County Jail on Friday after serving 16 days for state Health and Safety Code violations growing out of last year’s listeriosis epidemic that took 20 to 40 lives, mostly those of fetuses and infants.

Gary S. McPherson, 45, had been scheduled to surrender on Friday to begin serving a 30-day term, but he actually reported to jail July 16 and his time was shortened for good behavior.

McPherson also was fined $18,800 and placed on two years’ probation after he pleaded no contest to 10 misdemeanor counts.