Bundy Ranch Trial: A Legacy to Richard Lovelien

In February 2017, the Bundy Ranch Trial commenced with the prosecution of the first of three groups, or "Tiers," of defendants. A detail noted in court was the categorization of defendants in the Tier 2 classification among the "least culpable" by federal prosecutors and the judge. Note: Despite being identified as "least culpable," every defendant, including those in Tier 1, faced numerous identical, serious charges that carried the potential penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction. Las Vegas attorney Shawn Perez represented Richard Lovelien of Oklahoma, asserting his client's minimal involvement. Perez maintained that Richard Lovelien did not threaten anyone, draw his weapon, or engage law enforcement officers. According to his attorney, Lovelien's position was, "I don't even know why I'm here." In August 2017, a federal jury found Rick Lovelien and co-defendant Steven Stewart innocent of all 10 charges against each of them in the retrial related to the 2014 Fed-Led Bundy Ranch standoff. Following the jury's verdict, U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro immediately freed Lovelien and Stewart from custody. He was released after having spent more than a year in prison while awaiting and undergoing trial. This acquittal came in the second trial for Lovelien and three other defendants, as the first trial in April 2017 ended in a hung jury on all counts against him. In Memoriam: Richard "Rick" Lovelien who passed away from cancer on December 4th, 2022.

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