“Then the BLM began secretly gathering ‘stuff’ against the Hammonds accusing them of arson, conspiracy, flying in restricted airspace, etc.,” Danielsen said.
According to an NPR report, Dwight Hammond was alleged to have made death threats against federal officials. In 2010 a federal grand jury indicted Dwight and his son Steve on 19 counts, including conspiracy to commit arson, for multiple wildfires in the Steens Mountain area. These charges of arson went all the way back to the early 80s – a span of over 25 years.
“If it was arson, why did they wait?” Danielsen noted.
In 2011 a new federal prosecutor was named and 10 of the original 19 count indictments were dropped, leaving nine counts spanning 15 years. The BLM and federal prosecutor decided to charge the Hammonds with an arson charge connected with the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. A jury found Dwight Hammond guilty of one of the nine counts, and Steve Hammond guilty of two of the nine counts -- the two fires the Hammonds admitted to starting.
One was a prescribed burn on Hammond property that got away from them and burned 139 acres of adjacent BLM land. The other was in response to a lightning-caused fire, what is known as a "back burn," which was started on Hammond property and burned an acre of BLM land. At the time, the Hammonds claimed the fires were lit to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires, but prosecutors argued it was to cover-up poaching.
“Neither of these fires would be considered ‘terrorism arson’
--Previous Message--
: they only burned 123 acres...5 years..(after
: they served a year or something like
: that)..seems like double jepordy....bet
: Obama don't step in here
:
: --Previous Message--
: It sounds like the rancher and his son from
: Oregon don't want that Bundy clan from
: Nevada to help them.
:
: --Previous Message--
: OREGON
: Armed protestors occupying national wildlife
: refuge building vow long stay
:
: The 73-year-old rancher and his 46-year-old
: son claim they lit the fires in 2001 and
: 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants
: and protect their property from wildfires.
: The two were convicted of the arsons three
: years ago and served time — the father three
: months, the son one year. But a judge ruled
: their terms were too short under federal law
: and ordered them back to prison for about
: four years each.
:
: The decision has generated controversy in a
: remote part of the state.
:
:
:
:
: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/03/armed-protestors-occupying-national-wildlife-refuge-building-vow-long-stay.html?intcmp=hpbt1
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