LAS VEGAS — The Latest on the trial of six men charged in an armed standoff with federal agents:
1:10 p.m.
A jury in Las Vegas has deadlocked on federal charges against four men in an armed standoff that stopped government agents from rounding up cattle near Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch in 2014.
The judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors couldn’t reach verdicts on charges against Richard Lovelien, Scott Drexler, Eric Parker and Steven Stewart. Earlier, the same jury convicted two others in the standoff.
Judge scheduled a new trial for June 26. That’s the same day Bundy; his eldest sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy; and two other defendants are scheduled for trial.
The split decision Monday came in the first trial in the standoff hailed as a victory by those who oppose federal control of vast stretches of land in the U.S. West. It had been seen as a preview for the case against the Bundys.
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11:10 a.m.
A jury in Las Vegas has found two men guilty of federal charges in an armed standoff that stopped government agents from rounding up cattle near Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch in 2014.
Jurors said in a note Monday they were deadlocked on charges against four other men. The judge sent them back to keep deliberating.
The verdicts against Gregory Burleson of Arizona and Todd Engel of Idaho are the first in the standoff hailed as a victory by those who oppose federal control of vast stretches of land in the U.S. West.
Burleson was found guilty of eight charges, including threatening and assaulting a federal officer. Engel was found guilty of obstruction and extortion.
They argued they were exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and weapon possession.
Prosecutors said it’s illegal to brandish assault-style weapons against armed federal agents.
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8:55 a.m.
A verdict has been reached in the trial of six men who had assault-style weapons during a standoff that stopped government agents from rounding up cattle near Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch in 2014.
A court official said Monday that the jury’s decision will be read at 10 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.
Each defendant faces 10 charges, including threatening and assaulting a federal officer, obstruction, extortion, weapon violations and conspiracy.
The trial is seen as a preview for an upcoming trial for Bundy; his eldest sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy; and two other defendants who prosecutors have characterized as leaders of the conspiracy.
The standoff was seen as a victory by states’ rights advocates who oppose federal control of land in the U.S. West.
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8:30 a.m.
A federal jury has resumed deliberations in the trial of six men who brought assault-style weapons to a standoff that stopped government agents from rounding up cattle near Cliven Bundy’s ranch in April 2014.
A court official says jurors began deliberations again Monday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.
So far, the eight women and four men have spent three full days and two half days going over the evidence.
Trial took two months, and the six defendants face 10 charges each, including threatening and assaulting a federal officer, extortion, obstruction, weapon violations and conspiracy.
No shots were fired and the cattle were released after the standoff near Bunkerville.
The outcome was seen as a victory by states’ rights advocates who oppose federal control of rangeland in the West.
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