DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

Rancher admits assaulting federal officer in range dispute A southern New Mexico rancher pleaded guilty Wednesday to assaulting or resisting a federal officer and obstruction of a court order. Kit Laney, 43, was arrested March 14 during a roundup of cattle belonging to him and his ex-wife, Sherry Farr, on the Gila National Forest. Authorities said he threatened to trample federal officers with his horse and tried to release some of the impounded livestock. Laney and Farr did not have a permit to graze the cattle. Laney had been charged in federal court with eight counts including assault with a deadly weapon, assault on federal officers and obstruction of justice. At sentencing, which has not been scheduled, federal prosecutors are to dismiss the remaining six counts against Laney. Authorities had alleged that Laney's horse, spurs and horse reins were the deadly weapons used to assault federal officers....More than 450 head of the cattle were sold at auction over the summer for about $211,000. Laney was sent a bill for an additional $250,000 by the federal government for time and expense of the roundup of his cattle. The convictions each carry a maximum penalty of up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of supervised release. Norm Kairns, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Albuquerque, said the agreement stipulates that Laney's sentence will be on the low end of the penalties, which means he faces a 10-16 month sentence. The minimum sentence would be five months jail time and five months home confinement....