Charges dismissed for one of Recapture protesters

The U.S. Attorney has dismissed charges against one of five men named in federal charges related to the May 10 Recapture Canyon protest.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen, the charges against Jay Redd were dismissed after Redd “provided evidence... that negates the requisite state of mind to support the criminal charges.”
Charges against the five men relate to the May 10, 2014 protest of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closure of portions of Recapture Canyon. Several hundred people gathered at a rally and about 100 people participated in a subsequent ATV ride into the canyon.
The charges include one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to organize the protest and one misdemeanor count of riding in a closed area.
Each of the charges carry penalties up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Redd had argued that he was not involved in organizing the protest and did not knowingly “cross the line” into the closed area.
While he spoke at the protest prior to the ride, his words were focused on the life, service and June 2009 death of his father, Dr. Jim Redd.
Charges against the other four men are active. A December 22 trial date is scheduled at the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City.
The four men still facing charges are San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman, Monte Wells, Trent Holliday and Shane Marian.
While the charges are dismissed in the Recapture Canyon protest, a separate complaint in federal court by the Redd family alleges that BLM law enforcement officials used unnecessary force while arresting Dr. Jim Redd in June, 2009.
Dr. Redd committed suicide the day after more than 100 federal agents swarmed the area and arrested more than two dozen defendants for trafficking in ancient artifacts. A federal judge recently ruled that the Redd family can pursue the claims in federal court.