Judge declares mistrial in Nevada ranching standoff case

LAS VEGAS (AP) – A federal judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the case of a Nevada rancher and states’ rights figure, two of his sons and another defendant accused of leading an armed standoff that stopped a federal roundup of cattle in 2014.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the jury Wednesday and faulted prosecutors for what she called “constitutional due-process violations” and failing to properly turn over evidence to the defense.

The decision in the case against Cliven Bundy, two of his sons and another man is the latest in a string of failed prosecutions in Nevada and Oregon against those who have opposed federal control of vast swaths of land in the American West.

Bundy insists public land belongs to states, not the U.S. government, and refused to pay grazing fees for decades.

That led government agents to begin rounding up his cattle, which prompted the armed confrontation.

The defense alleged that prosecutors and government agents failed to properly turn over evidence before the trial began in November.

Navarro hinted last week that trouble was afoot in the trial involving Cliven Bundy, sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy and Ryan Payne.

Navarro sent the jury home Dec. 11 and put proceedings on hiatus to review documents filed under seal following closed-door hearings with prosecutors and defense teams over complaints about the conduct of FBI and Bureau of Land Management agents.