DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

Federal judge keeps Laney from returning home

Jun 10, 2004, 19:52

A federal judge still will not let Kit Laney return home.
The rancher "can't go to Catron County," Judge John Conway's administrative assistant told the Daily Press.
Laney, since his April 8 release from jail, has been under court order to steer clear of his Diamond Bar Ranch in the Gila National Forest.
Conway last week continued Laney's case until Aug. 10 in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.
The rancher was arrested March 14 on five counts of assault on federal officers and three counts of obstruction.
The confrontation took place while contract cowboys hired by the Forest Service were rounding up cattle belonging to Laney and Sherry Farr, who were grazing livestock in the national forest without a permit.
Conway last week also allowed Laney to dismiss his attorneys and represent himself, a move the judge's administrative assistant called "very bizarre."
Laney "doesn't like what (his lawyers) are telling him," said the assistant, who predicted Conway will appoint "standby counsel" to help Laney.
Until about three weeks ago, Laney was required to wear an electronic monitoring "bracelet" so authorities could monitor his whereabouts. He has been living on a ranch in Otero County.