Federal judge ends Nevada case against rancher Bundy, 2 sons

LAS VEGAS (AP) – A federal judge dismissed criminal charges Monday against a Nevada rancher and his sons, accused of leading an armed uprising against federal authorities.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro ruled that federal prosecutors acted with willful disregard for constitutional due process rights of 71-year-old Cliven Bundy, sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and Montana militia leader Ryan Payne.

The judge last month declared a mistrial after a month of proceedings for the same reasons.

Navarro severely criticized prosecutors for failing to properly turn over evidence to their lawyers.

The collapse of the case is a stunning failure for the U.S. attorney’s office in Nevada, where 19 co-defendants were indicted in early 2016 on charges including conspiracy, obstruction and threats and assault of federal agents in the April 2014 standoff outside Bunkerville.