Oregon ranchers stand trial in grass fire case

Trial opened Tuesday in U.S. District Court for two Harney County ranchers charged with deliberately setting fires on federal grazing land between 2001 and 2006. Steven Hammond and his father, Dwight Lincoln Hammond Jr., of Hammond Ranch near Frenchglen were admonished in 1999 by a federal range manager about carelessly setting fires to improve grazing conditions, according to U.S. Attorney Frank Papagni Jr. of Eugene. Two years later, Papagni alleged, the Hammonds set a fire to scare away deer hunters. Finally, in August 2006, the father and son set an illegal burn that threatened to overrun a BLM brush engine and its crew, the prosecutor explained. Firefighter Lance Okeson confronted Dwight Hammond at the scene: "Don't be doing this; you're lighting us in,'" Papagni told jurors. A federal indictment charges the pair with nine counts, including conspiracy and setting illegal fires on federal grazing land, fires that coincided or contributed to the Hardie Hammond, Lower Bridge Creek and Krumbo Butte fires. Defense lawyers in turns explaining that the government built its case on suspicion and error. Lightning in most cases caused the fires the government claims the Hammonds set, said Steven Hammond's attorney, Lawrence Matasar of Portland. Hammond cattle were endangered by some fires and the Hammonds' presence is explained by their need to move their cattle out harm's way, said attorney Marc Blackman of Portland, representing Dwight Hammond...more