‘87 Electrocution : 2 Charged in Death of Tree Worker

The owner and foreman of a tree trimming company have been accused of four state Labor Code violations in connection with the electrocution death of an employee last October in North Hollywood, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office said Monday.

Kurt Stegen, 31, of Newhall, the owner of Timberline Tree Co. of Inglewood, and his site foreman, Tim Ohnstad, 26, of Westchester, were charged in a misdemeanor complaint with failing to take precautions that could have prevented the death of their employee, said City Atty. James K. Hahn.

The employee, Pedro Sandoval, 42, of Canoga Park, was killed Oct. 14 after climbing to the top of a palm tree on West Emilita Street. He was electrocuted when he attempted to remove a palm frond from a power line.

Too Close to the Line

Hahn said Stegen and Ohnstad allowed Sandoval to work too close to the power line, violating a state regulation that prohibits workers from coming within 6 feet of energized lines.

The city attorney also charged that Stegen and Ohnstad were aware that the Department of Water and Power could have turned off the current on the line, but did not ask the DWP to do so.

“The defendants failed to take precautions which would have prevented the death,” Hahn said.

The two other charges involve violations of state safety regulations--one count of committing serious violations that resulted in the death of an employee and one count of committing a serious violation of state safety laws.

Maximum Penalty

At the time of the electrocution, Stegen’s company was under contract with the DWP and was trimming city-owned trees. If convicted of all four counts, he and his foreman face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a $17,000 fine.

Ohnstad said Monday that he has been advised by his attorney not to discuss the charges. Stegen could not be reached for comment.

Both men have been ordered to appear for arraignment March 8 at Los Angeles Municipal Court.