Font ResizeMoab » A 78-year-old member of the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame, Harold J. Lyman of Blanding, Thursday morning entered a plea of not guilty to trafficking in stolen artifacts.
Lyman was one of two dozen defendants caught up in a federal law enforcement sting surrounding the looting of archaeological artifacts in San Juan County. He is charged with one felony count of violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), punishable by two years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and one felony count of theft of government property, punishable by 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Lyman was among the last six of those indicted by a federal grand jury to make initial appearances before federal Magistrate Samuel Alba in a Moab courtroom.
Lyman will be assigned a public defender. Alba ordered federal officials to provide the defense with evidence against the defendants by June 26.
Aubry Patterson, 55, of Blanding, pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of violating ARPA and two felony counts of theft of government property, as well as three felony counts of theft of Indian tribal property.
Patterson, who appeared in court in shackles, was released after Alba determined he was not a risk to federal officers.
According to courtroom testimony, Patterson told an undercover federal agent that if caught with artifacts he would have a shoot-out with authorities rather than go to jail.
Patterson was convicted of a marijuana-related felony in 1982. Lynn Donaldson, a defense attorney with the federal public defender's office, told Alba that Patterson had no history of violence.
"Sometimes I talk tougher than I am," Patterson explained to the judge.
Tammy Shumway, 39, of Blanding, also pleaded not guilty. She is charged with eight felony counts of violating ARPA and five felony counts of theft of government property.
She is presently serving a state sentence for possession of methamphetamine. When that sentence expires in 10 days, she will have a detention hearing on the federal charges in Alba's Salt Lake City courtroom.
Also making initial an appearance on federal charges of looting Thursday was Richard Raymond Bourret, of Durango, Colo.
He pleaded not guilty to one felony count of violating ARPA and one felony count of depredation of government property.
Carl Lavern Crites, 74, and Marie Virginia Crites, 68, both of Durango, Colo., also pleaded not guilty to federal looting charges Thursday. The Crites are dealers in historical artifacts.
Alba said a status conference will be held for all 24 defendants in his Salt Lake City courtroom in August. He did not specify a date.
