2/8/2010 11:23:00 PM State seeks gag order after defense goes on the offensive in Sweat lodge manslaughter case
Jon Pelletier/Special to the Courier
A shackled James Ray pleaded "not guilty" to the three manslaughter charges this past Thursday. He is currently in the Camp Verde jail.
By FELICIA FONSECA The Associated Press
Attorneys for a motivational speaker charged in the deaths of three people during a Sedona sweat lodge ceremony wasted no time going on the offensive after his arrest last week.
James Arthur Ray's lawyers appeared on "Larry King Live" and granted interviews to other national media outlets to counter prosecution claims that he was responsible for the deaths at a ceremony he led in October.
The push didn't go unnoticed, with prosecutors now filing a request for a gag order in the case.
Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk argued the order would limit pretrial publicity that could taint the jury pool. She wants the order to include Ray's employees, his attorneys and their staff, staff and attorneys in the county attorney's office and employees of the Sheriff's Office.
"Nothing is more vital to a just and accurate outcome of this case than ensuring that the evidence is presented in a venue controlled by the rules of evidence rather than in the court of public opinion," Polk wrote in her request.
Ray's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. They said in court documents that they would file a formal response this week.
They also asked that the prosecutors' motion be heard on Friday, when they also plan to argue for a reduced bail.
Ray faces three counts of manslaughter and is being held in the Camp Verde jail on a $5 million bond. His attorneys have called the deaths a tragic accident and said Ray is not guilty.
Prosecutors contend Ray recklessly crammed more than 50 participants of his "Spiritual Warrior" event into a 415-square-foot sweat lodge and chided them for wanting to leave, even as people were vomiting, getting burned by hot rocks and lying on the ground.
Three people who never regained consciousness died at hospitals - Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., whose birthday was Monday; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn. Eighteen others were hospitalized.
Public records show a pattern of illnesses at Ray-led events that he largely ignored. If convicted, Ray faces up to 12.5 years on each count of manslaughter with probation being an option.
Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Article comment by:
nokomis paquin
Unfortunately, the prosecutor dropped the ball by not asking for a gag order at the initial hearing. Ray had already given out interviews and written blogs on the Internet for the purpose of muddying the jury pool. Larry King's show is only one of several places that have had interviews with Ray or his supporters. Kind of like closing the barn door AFTER the livestock got out.
Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Article comment by:
The Verdict
The defense knows it's in trouble if they're going on Larry King. They know the one critical thing that we don't know: the cause of death. I think it is hypoxemia (lack of oxygen in the bloodstream). 3 healthy 40 year olds don't die by accident at the same time, everyone knows that. They don't all have "heat stroke" or dehydration in 2 hours. It was some form of poisoning, and 50 folks breathing hard in that tiny unventilated tent thing just consumed the oxygen and boom, 3 died. So there you go, and if the defense thinks that Larry King can somehow help they are desparate folks.
