Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy, 69 years old, was denied bail in federal court. The judges ruled that he will remain in jail while awaiting trial on his case when he lead the infamous Nevada standoff with the federal government in 2014.
U.S. judge Carl Hoffman Jr. ruled at a hearing in Las Vegas federal court, that Bundy will not be released as he would pose a danger to the public, according to Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, as reported in the Guardian.
Cliven Bundy, his two sons Ammon and Ryan, and three other relatives, are also in jail, facing charges for their participation in the 2014 Nevada standoff - a conspiracy case that includes a total of 19 defendants.
The standoff scene was described by The Bulletin, as Cliven Bundy pointed military-style AR--15 and AK-47 weapons to the agents of Federal Bureau of Land Management and the contract cowboys herding cattle toward a corral on an Insterstate 15 overpass, 80 miles north of Las Vegas. The bureau were there to confiscate Bundy's cattle, but failed. No one was injured in the Nevada standoff.
Cliven Bundy, the unofficial leader of the anti-government land-use rights movement, had for years refused to pay grazing fees to allow his cattle to use publicly owned lands. The rancher avoided charges for for two years, but he was already taken into custody when he attempted to travel to Oregon where his sons were leading a simliar armed confrontation at a wildlife refuge.
In addtion to that, Reuters reported that Bundy's prosecutors claimed he trespassed on federal lands for over 20 years, refusing to secure the necessary permits or pay the required fees the government charges ranchers to let their cattle graze on U.S.-owned public property.
Bundy's lawyers continue fighting for his bail, as they sought for his pre-trial release, arguing Bundy is peaceable and not a flight risk.
But the judge denied their request, telling them "I do not believe, Mr. Bundy, that you will comply with my court orders any more than you have complied with previous court orders."
Cliven Bundy still refused to enter a plea on all charges, leading a judge to serve a ''not guilty'' plea on his behalf.
