DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

Sherry Farr asks supporters not to harass officials

In an e-mail received by the Daily Press, Sherry (Laney) Farr is asking those who support her and Kit Laney in the issue of impoundment of their cattle on the Diamond Bar Ranch not to harass U.S. Forest Service personnel.

"It has come to my attention that various USFS personnel are making claims of harassment against people who may be supporting us in our battle with the USFS over the legality of the impoundment of our cattle," Farr wrote. "Neither Kit nor I will ever condone any threats or intimidating tactics made in our name. Anyone who is capable of committing such atrocities is likely only trying to make us look bad and make an already bad situation much worse. These people should see the inside of a courtroom."

Farr, who was recently divorced from Laney, but still resides at the Diamond Bar Ranch, said: "People who believe in us, and believe in Kit, will keep their protests and attitudes peaceful. Anyone who refuses to do so is not acting in our behalf and is not concerned with our well-being. We believe anyone committing crimes in this manner would have done so regardless of our situation and should be punished accordingly."

Kit Laney, who was arrested March 14 after a confrontation with federal officers near where the cattle were impounded, is being held without bond at Doa Ana Detention Center in Las Cruces.

He is accused of threatening to trample federal officers with his horse, and trying to release some of his livestock, according to Forest Service personnel.

Laney was charged with assault on a peace officer, obstruction of a court order and intimidation.

Laney is scheduled to be back in court Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., in Las Cruces for another arraignment/pre-trial hearing, according to Farr.

"Kit remains in jail on allegations that he committed a serious crime, a crime that our legitimate supporters and friends do not believe he is capable of committing," Farr wrote. "Kit told me his story and there is no reason for me to believe the allegations made against him.

"To behave as Kit is said to have done would have required almost superhuman strength," she wrote. "In my mind, the story the USFS witnesses are telling is simply not humanly possible.

"We are not in any way condoning the USFS actions as they continue to gather and inflict damage to our cattle. Nor do we appreciate the agency's false portrayal of Kit as having the potential to be violent. This continual defamation of Kit's character, even after the claims were proven false, was used to inflame the law enforcement officers involved in the impoundment and directly contributed to Kit's violent arrest and the charges against him.

"We feel confident that Kit will be exonerated of these charges," Farr wrote. "We feel confident that he will be freed from jail as soon as he finally receives a full arraignment hearing. He is doing well, and in as high spirits as can be expected."

The Forest Service personnel have said the cattle are being well cared for.

A notice of livestock sale legal advertisement is being placed by the Forest Service in today's Daily Press. It lists the number of cattle rounded up.

Cattle with the Diamond Bar Cattle Co. brand include 16 bulls, 82 cows, 45 steers, 59 heifers, nine steer calves, three heifer calves and two bull calves. Those with the Kit Laney brand include three cows, while those with the Sherry (Laney) Farr brand are five bulls, 10 cows two steers and three heifers.

Unbranded cattle include four heifer calves and eight bull calves.

According to the legal notice: "Livestock may be redeemed at any time before the date set for sale (five days from publication of notice) by submitting proof of ownership and paying for all expenses incurred by the United States Forest Service in gathering, hauling, impounding and feeding such livestock.

"In addition, livestock shall not be placed back on lands of the United States Forest Service (including but not limited to the Gila National Forest, the Apache National Forest, the Laney allotment and the Diamond Bar allotment) in the absence of a valid permit from the United States Forest Service," according to the legal notice.

Andrea Martinez, Forest Service spokeswoman, said this morning that 75 to 80 percent of the cattle have been rounded up.

"The estimate is that 305 to 310 have been gathered," Martinez said. "We expect the contractor will gather about 90 percent of the cattle, while the remaining cattle will be gathered and impounded by Forest Service personnel. We feel we have between 50 and 100 more to impound.

"The largest group we've gathered came out of the East Fork of the Gila River," she said.

Martinez said the rest of the cattle will be rounded up from the farthest reaches of the allotment.

Martinez also said the Forest Service is "not sharing the information" on where the sale of the cattle will be held.

According to the legal notice, "arrangements for redemption of livestock should be made with the Wilderness District Ranger, Annette Chavez, at (505) 536-2250."

Commission criticizes Forest Service for actions against rancher

The Catron County Commission is publicly criticizing the U.S. Forest Service and environmentalists, and the commission is supporting ranchers.

The commission says environmental groups have held the Forest Service hostage.

Gila National Forest Supervisor Marcia Andre disputes that view, and she says most ranchers who hold Forest Service permits are “quality land stewards.”

Andre says the worst thing that could happen to the forest would be for ranchers to go out of business.

The commission weighed in on the issue because of the ongoing situation with Diamond Bar rancher Kit Laney. He was arrested March 14th after a confrontation with federal officers.

Laney is accused of trying to release some of his livestock during a roundup to remove his cattle from the Gila National Forest.


March 22, 2004

NOTICE OF CLAIM AND NOTICE OF FRAUD

NOTICE is hereby given to any and all who may have a purported “interest” in or desire to purchase livestock specifically identified with certain brands as follows:

KIT SS 7Y- NOTE: Three of the brands didn't copy over, including the Diamond Bar.



Said livestock are the property of Kit and Sherry Laney and a perfected security interest in the form of a UCC-1 financing statement is in force and effect. In the event that you decide to purchase these stolen cattle, you risk the event of not only losing your money, but the cattle as well. The UCC filing is under the seal and stamp of the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office at filing number(s): 20030341986H filed at 8:00 a.m. on September 22, 2003, and filing number 20030341985G filed moments later.

Said secured party in this matter is a 5-fold ministry dedicated to the preservation of the western way of life in America. Secured Party Services is administered by one Samuel Lynn: Davis and as the Secured Party in this matter has a priority claim on the confiscated cattle.

Let all to whom these presents come take NOTICE:

NOTICE OF FRAUD is hereby given that attempts by person or persons unknown are being made to sell said property without compensation to the Secured Party as well as attempting to bargain, sell, convey, and transfer, without full disclosure to a prospective buyer, and further, said attempt to sell these cattle aforementioned is in violation of New Mexico law and a civil conspiracy between the agency’s and agents of the Federal Government known as the corporation of the United States of America in concert with the STATE OF NEW MEXICO and its agents as well as others as yet unknown.

BUYER BEWARE!

Dated this 22nd day of March, 2004.


Samuel Lynn: Davis
/s/
Samuel Lynn: Davis

One, Samuel Lynn: Davis, living, breathing, man, hereby certifies on my own unlimited commercial liability, that the information above is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to the best of my personal knowledge and belief, so help me God, the Author of all Truth. Amen

Samuel Lynn: Davis /s/