Outraged father of Andrew Maloney wants justice

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The father of a North Valley firefighter killed in a DUI crash last year speaks out for the first time. His mission is to make sure justice is served against the driver in the case.

The crash happened in Los Banos last June. 29-year-old Andrew Maloney, 29, was riding his motorcycle, when officers say Amie Chick turned her car right in front of him. The 25 year old pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to one year in jail. She is now under house arrest instead.

Amie Chick was placed under house arrest because she's considered a low-level offender. Andrew Maloney's family is hoping an online petition will reverse that decision.

Nearly one year after the crash that killed his son, Shannon Maloney says the pain is just as unbearable as the day it happened.

Shannon Maloney said, "My son had not done anything wrong. He was simply riding his motorcycle, she turned right in front of him, and he died as a result of the accident."

Amie Chick, the driver responsible, had alcohol and marijuana in her system. Witnesses say she was also talking on her cell phone. She received a one year jail sentence, as well as five years of felony probation and community service.

"I thought 100 hours of community service was way too light," Maloney said. "But I accepted that, that was the sentence and that's the way the system works."

Maloney's stance has since changed. After learning Chick is spending a year of house arrest at her parent's home in Calaveras County, he now calls the system: broken. "It seems to me that justice would be served by her serving some time in jail."

The Merced County Sheriff's Office says, there's simply not enough room for chick in the jail. Under Assembly Bill 109, space is reserved for non-violent and low-risk offenders, who are required to spend their time in county jail, instead of a state prison. That's where this online petition comes in. Via Change.Org, Maloney's family and friends are hoping to collect 2,000 signatures, before presenting it to the state assembly.

"I gotta give it everything I got," Maloney said. "I have to find some way to reach out."

Maloney says it's the least he can do for his son, "Some of his fire hats, including some of his helmets."

Whose passion was serving others.

Andrew Maloney served with the Cal Fire station in Hornitos. Amie Chick does have to wear an ankle bracelet. And while she can still work, she is under 24-hour surveillance.

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