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U.S. NEWSTuesday 9 January 2018
Judge dismisses standoff case vs. Cliven Bundy, sons Washington:
By KEN RITTER In this Dec. 20, 2017 photo from left, Ammon Bundy, Ryan Payne, Jeanette Finicum, widow of Manhunt on for
Associated Press suspect in killing
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, Ryan Bundy, Angela Bundy, wife of Ryan Bundy and Jamie Bundy, of state deputy
in Las Vegas on Monday
dismissed criminal charges daughter of Ryan Bundy, walk out of a federal courthouse in Las Vegas. FREDERICKSON, Wash. (AP)
against a Nevada rancher — Authorities in Washing-
and his sons accused of (AP Photo/John Locher) ton state appealed to the
leading an armed uprising public for help Monday
against federal authorities oil and gas drilling. About three dozen heav- without paying govern- in tracking down a man
in 2014. believed to have been in-
Chief U.S. District Judge The tense armed standoff ily armed federal agents ment fees. volved in the fatal shooting
Gloria Navarro signaled of a sheriff’s deputy over-
when she declared a mistri- outside Bunkerville, about guarding corrals in a dry riv- No shots were fired before night.
al last month that she might Pierce County deputy
dismiss the case outright 80 miles (129 kilometers) erbed faced hundreds of the outnumbered and out- Daniel McCartney, a
against 71-year-old Cliven 34-year-old Navy veteran
Bundy, sons Ryan and Am- northeast of Las Vegas, flag-waving men, women gunned federal agents and married father to three
mon Bundy, and Montana young boys, was shot dur-
militia leader Ryan Payne. stopped a federal Bureau and children calling for the withdrew. ing a foot chase late Sun-
The judge severely criti- day as he responded to
cized prosecutors for willful- of Land Management release of some 400 cows. Several gunmen among a home invasion near the
ly violating the due process small community of Freder-
rights of the defendants, roundup of Bundy cattle The cattle had been round- the protesters who had ickson, 15 miles (24 kilome-
including failing to properly ters) southeast of Tacoma,
turn over evidence to their from public land including ed up under court orders assault-style rifles were ac- said sheriff’s spokesman Ed
lawyer. Troyer.
But she gave the govern- what is now Gold Butte Na- issued over Bundy letting quitted of criminal charges One suspect was found
ment a chance to submit dead at the scene, but an-
written documents oppos- tional Monument. his herd graze for 20 years in two trials last year.q other got away, authorities
ing dismissal of all charges. said. They said they were
The decision is sure to rever- looking for a mixed race or
berate among states’ rights white man who is tall and
advocates in the Western thin, with curly dark hair in
U.S., where the federal gov- a ponytail; a large, pointy
ernment controls vast land nose; and pock marks on
that some people want to right side of his face.
protect and others want to Police closed off roads in
use for grazing, mining and the area and conducted
a manhunt in an area that
Montana: includes industrial sites as
well as wooded areas, ask-
Prison sought for ex-lawmaker, convicted meth dealer ing local residents to stay
indoors, but did not find
By MATTHEW BROWN In this April 26, 2007, photo, Montana House Majority Leader Rep. pounds of methamphet- the man. It was unclear
Associated Press amine is difficult to over- whether he had access to
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Fed- Michael Lange, R-Billings, speaks during a news conference in state.” a vehicle.
eral prosecutors are rec- Lange’s sentencing re- “There’s a sadness that will
ommending a former Mon- Helena, Mont. quest was filed under seal. be felt and should be felt
tana House majority leader His defense attorney, Ashley in the community,” said
be sentenced to 28 years in (G. Lane /Independent Record/AP) Harada, asked the court to Pierce County Sheriff Paul
prison for operating a drug shield the document from Pastor.
trafficking ring that brought Sentencing is set for Jan. 18 munity and surrounding ar- public release because it “He is a young deputy who
large volumes of metham- contained “sensitive ma- signed up to watch over
phetamine into the state. before U.S. District Judge eas with a significant quan- terial related to (Lange’s) other people. He had an
Court documents filed last case strategy and ongoing ethic in his heart for doing
week by prosecutors de- Susan Watters. tity of highly pure meth- criminal investigations.” something for other peo-
scribe former lawmaker Harada did not immedi- ple.”
Michael David Lange as Each count carries a man- amphetamine,” Assistant ately respond to requests McCartney was hired at
“the central player” in a for comment. the sheriff’s department in
conspiracy that brought at datory minimum of 10 years U.S. Attorney John Sullivan During his three two-year 2014 after stints with police
least 20 and possibly up to terms in the Legislature, departments in the small
50 pounds (9 and possibly to life in prison and a $10 wrote in the government’s Lange, a Republican from Washington state cities of
up to 23 kilograms) of the Billings, supported giving Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
drug into the Billings area million fine. sentencing request. $4 million in state money to After the shooting he was
over a seven-month period an anti-methamphetamine taken to a Tacoma hos-
in 2016. “Lange was responsible for “The negative impact as- public relations campaign, pital, where he was pro-
Lange, 57, pleaded guilty the Montana Meth Project. nounced dead. His family
in September to conspira- polluting the Billings com- sociated with at least 20 He was ousted from his members and dozens of
cy to possess and distribute leadership position in 2007 law enforcement officers
methamphetamine and after being captured on gathered at the hospital to
possession of methamphet- video in a profane tirade say goodbye,
amine with the intent to dis- against then-Gov. Brian The News Tribune newspa-
tribute. Schweitzer, a Democrat. q per reported .q
