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In reply to the discussion: What exactly are the Oregon Arsonists guilty of? [View all]2naSalit
(86,906 posts)10. Here's some history on the Hammonds...
Left over Cliven Bundy militants appear in Burns, OR. Occupy Malheur wildlife refuge headquarters
The event galvanizing the self-styled militia members and supporters is the scheduled return to prison on Jan. 4 of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. They were convicted several years ago of setting arson fires on U.S. public land. The Hammonds have already served the sentences ordered by a federal judge, but the sentences themselves were later determined to be illegally short. U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan had given them the light prison sentences. Judge Hogan said that mandatory minimum five-year sentences were grossly disproportionate. Hogan wrote this as he was about to retire.
Prosecutors appealed the sentence, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the appeal. A minimum sentence mandated by the statute is not a suggestion that courts have discretion to disregard. So wrote appellate judge Judge Stephen J. Murphy II about the minimum sentence prescribed by the law the Hammonds were convicted by a jury of violating. The Hammonds report to prison in California on Jan. 4, 2016. So far they have not called for support from the militants and seem ready to report to prison.
The event galvanizing the self-styled militia members and supporters is the scheduled return to prison on Jan. 4 of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. They were convicted several years ago of setting arson fires on U.S. public land. The Hammonds have already served the sentences ordered by a federal judge, but the sentences themselves were later determined to be illegally short. U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan had given them the light prison sentences. Judge Hogan said that mandatory minimum five-year sentences were grossly disproportionate. Hogan wrote this as he was about to retire.
Prosecutors appealed the sentence, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the appeal. A minimum sentence mandated by the statute is not a suggestion that courts have discretion to disregard. So wrote appellate judge Judge Stephen J. Murphy II about the minimum sentence prescribed by the law the Hammonds were convicted by a jury of violating. The Hammonds report to prison in California on Jan. 4, 2016. So far they have not called for support from the militants and seem ready to report to prison.
Here are previous stories in The Wildlife News on the Hammonds.
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2010/06/21/oregon-ranchers-charged/
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/06/04/trial-set-for-june-12-for-oregon-ranchers-accused-of-multiple-range-fire-arson/
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/06/13/striking-testimony-in-oregon-ranchers-trial-for-rangeland-arson/
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/06/22/east-oregon-ranchers-convicted-of-setting-public-lands-afire/
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2015/10/11/public-land-arson-ranchers-finally-get-the-prison-time-the-law-requires/
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Actually, they set the fires intentionally to cover up poaching on public land.
OregonBlue
Jan 2016
#11
It doesn't make that much different the act that they did to cover it up was arson on
LiberalArkie
Jan 2016
#12
You are correct now. South Dakota is sparsely populated and so is eastern Oregon (and Montana).
PufPuf23
Jan 2016
#31
A major claim of the militia is they believe they have a constitutional right to the land.
PufPuf23
Jan 2016
#30
Nice try. Ohio is mid EAST. It is 2/3 of the way from the center of the country
Ms. Toad
Jan 2016
#43
the judge that gave the first reduced sentence was a wingnut who had no RIGHT to do so.
JanMichael
Jan 2016
#35