Lyman Appeals Trespassing Conviction

San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman has appealed his federal trespass conviction to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. In court documents, Lyman calls his prosecution, ”a modern day witch hunt.” Eighteen Utah counties, including Kane, have filed briefs supporting Lyman. Lyman claims he struck an agreement with the Bureau of Land Management about how far his protest ATV ride could penetrate Recapture Canyon, which has been closed to mechanized traffic for nearly a decade. Lyman said he terminated his ride at that exact spot. A recording of a telephone conversation Lyman had with BLM state director Juan Palma was submitted as part of the appeal. In the recorded conversation Palma allegedly assured Lyman no one would be arrested for the protest ATV ride through Recapture Canyon. Lyman served 10 days in jail earlier this year. He is acting as his own lawyer in the appeals process. link