Prosecutors pushing to keep rancher Cliven Bundy in jail
Rancher Cliven Bundy listens to a question from a reporter at his ranch near Bunkerville on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 | 4:02 p.m.
Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to cancel Thursday’s detention hearing for Cliven Bundy and keep the jailed Nevada rancher behind bars.
In court papers filed Tuesday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mahre argues Bundy, 69, already had a detention hearing in Portland, Ore., following his arrest there Feb. 10.
Bundy faces 16 felony counts in connection with a 2014 armed standoff with federal authorities trying to round up cattle they allege were grazing illegally on public land near his Bunkerville ranch.
Tuesday’s court filings argue Bundy doesn’t deserve “three bites at the apple,” a reference to an initial hearing at the time of his arrest, a detention hearing in Oregon and the scheduled detention hearing in Las Vegas.
A Feb. 18 filing by the prosecution called Bundy “lawless and violent” and said he will “continue to act lawlessly” if allowed to return home. Prosecutors deemed him a safety risk to the community and a “serious risk” to flee.
Las Vegas lawyer Joel Hansen, who is representing Bundy, filed court papers today opposing the government’s motion to cancel the detention hearing.
“Mr. Bundy has never hurt a fly in his life,” the filing said. “He has never assaulted or battered anyone. He has shown no propensity to flee, since the standoff occurred almost 2 years ago and he has lived openly in Nevada at his residence ever since.”
The prosecution’s motion to cancel the detention hearing will be heard at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, just before the detention hearing is scheduled to start.
Bundy was arrested by FBI agents at the Portland airport on his way to support an armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge, which included his sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy. He was held without bail and returned to Las Vegas.
Protestors surrounded the federal courthouse in Las Vegas on Thursday as Bundy, who was in court for a hearing, refused to acknowledge federal authority and enter a plea.
A U.S. magistrate judge entered a not guilty plea on Bundy’s behalf to all 16 counts. Bundy faces charges including extortion, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and firearm offenses.