Catron County rancher stays in jail
By By T.S. Hopkins
Mar 17, 2004, 10:54 pm

The Catron County rancher who was arrested by officers of the U.S. Forest Service on Sunday will remain in the Doña Ana County Detention Center until at least Monday.
Kit Laney, 43, was arrested on his Diamond Bar ranch allotment in the Gila National Forest after allegedly interfering with officers removing his cattle under a federal court order. Laney faces one felony count of assault and a misdemeanor charge of interfering with law enforcement.
“I don’t think Mr. Laney is a flight risk,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen B. Molzen said in a detention hearing Tuesday, “but I am concerned about Mr. Laney being a danger to law enforcement.”
Molzen said she was not trying to punish Laney, rather to ensure officers’ safety.
During the hearing, Forest Service agent Douglas C. Rowe gave details of Sunday events that led to Laney’s arrest, though he was not present at the time. Rowe was testifying based on the information he received from the officers who arrested Laney. Rowe said Laney, on horseback, approached Forest Service officers Christopher Boehm and DeWayne Ross at a gallop. Ross was “nearly trampled,” court documents state.
Boehm said Laney’s horse struck him in the left shoulder and backed him into a cattle guard, “striking his leg and shin.” Laney then allegedly got off his horse and climbed on the fence of a pen set up to hold the cattle, trying to tear it down. When officers pulled Laney off the fence he was told he was under arrest. However, it took four officers and a shot of pepper spray to Laney’s face to subdue him enough to be placed in handcuffs.
In deciding to leave Laney in jail over the weekend, Molzen said she was troubled by his previous contempt of court citations. Laney had also earlier said he would not interfere with the court-ordered roundup.
“There is a lot to admire about Mr. Laney. He’s living the life Toby Keith sings about,” federal prosecutor John Crews told the judge. “But the system works because court orders are obeyed. There are no conditions that can be set to reasonably assume the officers will be safe. Mr. Laney won’t accept the court’s order, he still doesn’t get it.”
Crews wanted Laney held in jail until the cattle are all rounded up. Some ranchers in court estimated it could take six weeks or more before all Laney’s cattle have been corralled.
Laney’s court-appointed attorney Jane Greek had argued for the least restrictive way to protect Forest Service officers and allow Laney to continue his ranching operation.
“He can go home to his Black Canyon headquarters and his other operation,” Greek said. “He would only be permitted to use the road (Forest Road 150) between the two properties.”
Molzen will be out of town until Monday. Another detention hearing has been scheduled when she returns.
Laney’s former wife, Sherry, was in court for the proceedings. She visited Laney in jail and said his spirits are fine.
“He said he is getting along well with the other prisoners,” Laney said. “He wants to get out, of course. He also said he has learned a lot about drugs there.”
Laney supporter Bobby Jones, who drove over from Otero Mesa to watch the proceedings, shook his head when he heard the judge say Laney will stay in jail.
“He’s lived his whole life outside,” Jones said. “I don’t know how he’s gonna handle this.” T.S. Hopkins can be reached at thopkins@lcsun-news.com