Friday, June 24, 2011

Phoney Sweat Lodge Leader Convicted

Great News!

Tamarack Song take note. You kill somebody in one of your phoney sweat lodges and you're going to jail!

Self-Help Author Convicted of Negligent Homicide in Sweat Lodge Deaths
Published June 22, 2011
Associated Press

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. – A self-help author who led a deadly sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona was found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide Wednesday.

Jurors in the case against James Arthur Ray began deliberating Tuesday after a four-month trial.

Ray showed no reaction as the verdict was read. His parents and brother sat behind him, while victims' family members and friends held hands and looked on from across the courtroom.

Prosecutors asked that Ray be taken into custody immediately, but the judge denied the request.

More than 50 people participated in the October 2009 sweat lodge that was meant to be the highlight of Ray's five-day "Spiritual Warrior" seminar near Sedona.

Three people died following the sauna-like ceremony meant to provide spiritual cleansing. Eighteen were hospitalized, while several others were given water to cool down at the scene. Prosecutors and defense attorneys disagreed over whether the deaths and illnesses were caused by heat or toxins.

Ray's attorneys have maintained the deaths were a tragic accident. Prosecutors argued Ray recklessly caused the fatalities.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/22/self-help-author-convicted-negligent-homicide-in-sweat-lodge-deaths/#ixzz1QDLKfAeR

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8 Comments:

Anonymous Deimos said...

I hope his prison bunkmates think he's "real cute."

8/02/2011 12:40 PM  
Blogger Nemeses said...

While we often wish the worst on frauds like this clown, we do not endorse rape as a suitable punishment for anyone.

8/04/2011 11:58 AM  
Anonymous Diemos said...

Agreed. Rape is never a suitable punishment. My apologies.

8/04/2011 1:58 PM  
Blogger Nemeses said...

Thanks, Diemos.

We've made the same mistake, too.

It's one that's all too common in our culture.

8/05/2011 1:09 PM  
Anonymous helper said...

It is so tragic what happened with this Ray guy and, as you say, it SHOULD be a wake up call for frauds like Dan (aka Tamarack)...but I know him well enough to know he won't see it that way. I also know that, what cases like the Ray case do, is paint ALL (legitimate and not) with the same broad brush. Those of us that have seen the real thing know the real and the fake are worlds apart. A real lodge is the safest place in the world to be...a fake one is obviously one of the most dangerous.

10/02/2011 7:34 AM  
Blogger reginag said...

These types of stories always catch my attention.

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3/12/2013 8:03 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for keeping this blog. I am a recent college grad looking for work in writing and conservation, so naturally the Drum's ad. appealed to me. I havr previous ties with Cathlic Worker farms, si the environment described by my contact at the Drum seemed ideal. Thank god for google searches and this blog, I could have accidentally gotten mixed up with all of this crazy. Holy Shit!

9/03/2015 7:52 PM  
Blogger Nemeses said...

You're welcome, Kalli.

Glad you made the right decision.

9/14/2015 4:19 PM  

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