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| 'I still don’t believe it': Hammond family feels forgotten in Oregon standoff | 'I still don’t believe it': Hammond family feels forgotten in Oregon standoff |
| (2 days later) | |
| When Susie Hammond talks to her husband Dwight on the phone, the short calls are often filled with moments of silence. Dwight, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday, is locked up in a federal prison in southern California, more than 800 miles from his home in Harney County, eastern Oregon. | When Susie Hammond talks to her husband Dwight on the phone, the short calls are often filled with moments of silence. Dwight, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday, is locked up in a federal prison in southern California, more than 800 miles from his home in Harney County, eastern Oregon. |
| Related: Black Oregon militiaman: Black Lives Matter can learn from occupiers | Related: Black Oregon militiaman: Black Lives Matter can learn from occupiers |
| “He can’t hear very good on the phone,” said Susie, 74, sitting in the living room of her house on a snow-covered street in the small town of Burns. | “He can’t hear very good on the phone,” said Susie, 74, sitting in the living room of her house on a snow-covered street in the small town of Burns. |
| Because neither wants to upset each other, they do not discuss their struggles. | Because neither wants to upset each other, they do not discuss their struggles. |
| “If he thinks I’m going to be worried about him, he doesn’t talk about it,” said Susie, her eyes welling up. “I do the same. So there’s kind of dead time on the line. It’s very hard.” | |
| Two weeks ago, Dwight and Susie’s son Steven, 46, began a five-year prison sentence for arson offenses prosecutors said the two ranchers committed on federal land. Their imprisonment inspired an armed militia of rightwing activists, most from outside Oregon, to storm a federal wildlife refuge in protest of government land-use regulations and the treatment of the Hammonds. | Two weeks ago, Dwight and Susie’s son Steven, 46, began a five-year prison sentence for arson offenses prosecutors said the two ranchers committed on federal land. Their imprisonment inspired an armed militia of rightwing activists, most from outside Oregon, to storm a federal wildlife refuge in protest of government land-use regulations and the treatment of the Hammonds. |
| The occupation of the Malheur national wildlife refuge has continued to make international headlines and create divisions among the residents of rural Harney County. With the occupation entering its third week with no end in sight, trivial controversies, political spats, arrivals of armed “patriot” groups and bizarre publicity stunts have dominated local and national news. | The occupation of the Malheur national wildlife refuge has continued to make international headlines and create divisions among the residents of rural Harney County. With the occupation entering its third week with no end in sight, trivial controversies, political spats, arrivals of armed “patriot” groups and bizarre publicity stunts have dominated local and national news. |
| Largely left behind in the media circus is a locally beloved ranching family torn apart by a prosecution commentators across the political spectrum say was cruel and unjust. | Largely left behind in the media circus is a locally beloved ranching family torn apart by a prosecution commentators across the political spectrum say was cruel and unjust. |
| “I still don’t believe it,” Susie Hammond said, adding that she refuses to accept the idea that her husband of 56 years and her youngest son could now spend half a decade behind bars. “We just go day by day.” | “I still don’t believe it,” Susie Hammond said, adding that she refuses to accept the idea that her husband of 56 years and her youngest son could now spend half a decade behind bars. “We just go day by day.” |
| Close friends of the Hammonds – some of whom grew up alongside Steven and have been neighbors for decades – say they have done everything they can to keep the spotlight on the father and son locked up in federal correctional institution. | Close friends of the Hammonds – some of whom grew up alongside Steven and have been neighbors for decades – say they have done everything they can to keep the spotlight on the father and son locked up in federal correctional institution. |
| But the cries for freedom for the Hammonds have sometimes been almost entirely absent from press events of militia leader Ammon Bundy and the news reports that follow. | But the cries for freedom for the Hammonds have sometimes been almost entirely absent from press events of militia leader Ammon Bundy and the news reports that follow. |
| The Hammonds are just good people, down to earth folks. They’d help any neighbor | The Hammonds are just good people, down to earth folks. They’d help any neighbor |
| It is a particularly frustrating reality for some ranchers in Harney County, given that the injustice of the Hammonds’ imprisonment is the sole factor in this controversy that seems to have inspired consensus. Fighting for their release is a cause that everyone could get behind, ranchers said, but instead many are wasting their energy debating the merits of an armed takeover of a wildlife sanctuary. | It is a particularly frustrating reality for some ranchers in Harney County, given that the injustice of the Hammonds’ imprisonment is the sole factor in this controversy that seems to have inspired consensus. Fighting for their release is a cause that everyone could get behind, ranchers said, but instead many are wasting their energy debating the merits of an armed takeover of a wildlife sanctuary. |
| “The Hammonds are just good people, down-to-earth folks,” said Wes Land, a 56-year-old Burns resident who helps manage a ranch near the wildlife refuge and has known the Hammonds for years. “They’d help any neighbor.” | |
| Land said he worried that the militia’s violent image could taint the Hammonds’ reputation and make it harder for them to get out of prison. | Land said he worried that the militia’s violent image could taint the Hammonds’ reputation and make it harder for them to get out of prison. |
| “I’m afraid the judge or whoever hears the case, it’s going to put doubt in their mind that Steven and Dwight might do something against the government.” | “I’m afraid the judge or whoever hears the case, it’s going to put doubt in their mind that Steven and Dwight might do something against the government.” |
| The US Department of Justice and the Hammonds and their many Harney County supporters tell very different stories about what led to the imprisonment of the ranchers. | The US Department of Justice and the Hammonds and their many Harney County supporters tell very different stories about what led to the imprisonment of the ranchers. |
| According to federal prosecutors, the Hammonds were responsible for multiple fires on federal lands. In 2001, they started a fire, prosecutors say, to cover up evidence that they had illegally hunted deer on US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property, and the blaze ultimately consumed 139 acres of public land. | According to federal prosecutors, the Hammonds were responsible for multiple fires on federal lands. In 2001, they started a fire, prosecutors say, to cover up evidence that they had illegally hunted deer on US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property, and the blaze ultimately consumed 139 acres of public land. |
| Then in 2006, when a lightning storm started numerous fires, according to federal officials Steven ignored a “burn ban” and started “backfires” in an effort to save his ranch’s winter feed. That fire also spread to public land. | Then in 2006, when a lightning storm started numerous fires, according to federal officials Steven ignored a “burn ban” and started “backfires” in an effort to save his ranch’s winter feed. That fire also spread to public land. |
| In Burns and the surrounding ranching community, many say the allegations are completely unbelievable and that the Hammonds have always been good stewards of the land. They say the ranchers have struggled with oppressive regulations and have done their best to work with the federal government and maintain their livelihood and cattle. | In Burns and the surrounding ranching community, many say the allegations are completely unbelievable and that the Hammonds have always been good stewards of the land. They say the ranchers have struggled with oppressive regulations and have done their best to work with the federal government and maintain their livelihood and cattle. |
| “They took good care of their private grounds and the public property,” said Jeff Maupin, a 47-year-old Harney County rancher and a childhood friend of Steven Hammond. “Ask anybody – there’s no complaints about how they managed the land.” | “They took good care of their private grounds and the public property,” said Jeff Maupin, a 47-year-old Harney County rancher and a childhood friend of Steven Hammond. “Ask anybody – there’s no complaints about how they managed the land.” |
| The idea that the Hammonds burned a fire to cover up evidence of hunting is laughable to Maupin – not only because it would be so out of character, but also because a fire simply would not have the capacity to destroy deer carcasses, he said. | The idea that the Hammonds burned a fire to cover up evidence of hunting is laughable to Maupin – not only because it would be so out of character, but also because a fire simply would not have the capacity to destroy deer carcasses, he said. |
| We didn’t think it could happen. We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. | We didn’t think it could happen. We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. |
| “Just think about it – how in the world if you were poaching could you cover up evidence with a brush fire? Something has to burn so hot to burn flesh and bone. It does not make sense.” | “Just think about it – how in the world if you were poaching could you cover up evidence with a brush fire? Something has to burn so hot to burn flesh and bone. It does not make sense.” |
| The Hammonds have argued that in the first incident they started a “prescribed fire” to burn off invasive species – and that it inadvertently spread. They also say they would never poach deer on BLM land. They ignited the second fire, the Hammonds say, simply to protect their feed and home from a growing fire tied to severe lightning storms. | The Hammonds have argued that in the first incident they started a “prescribed fire” to burn off invasive species – and that it inadvertently spread. They also say they would never poach deer on BLM land. They ignited the second fire, the Hammonds say, simply to protect their feed and home from a growing fire tied to severe lightning storms. |
| Regardless of the merits of the prosecutors’ case, the sentencing shocked many people. While some in Harney County thought the Hammonds would only face some kind of fine, it became clear that the government was taking a much harsher approach. | Regardless of the merits of the prosecutors’ case, the sentencing shocked many people. While some in Harney County thought the Hammonds would only face some kind of fine, it became clear that the government was taking a much harsher approach. |
| Convicted under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the Hammonds were subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. But in 2012, US district judge Michael Hogan said that sentence was “grossly disproportionate to the severity of the offenses”. As a result, Dwight served a three-month sentence and Steven spent a year behind bars. | Convicted under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the Hammonds were subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. But in 2012, US district judge Michael Hogan said that sentence was “grossly disproportionate to the severity of the offenses”. As a result, Dwight served a three-month sentence and Steven spent a year behind bars. |
| But the nightmare for the Hammonds didn’t end there. After the ranchers came home, the Department of Justice appealed Hogan’s lighter sentencing, arguing it was illegal to ignore the mandatory minimum sentence. Last fall, the Hammonds were resentenced and forced to return to prison – this time for five years. | But the nightmare for the Hammonds didn’t end there. After the ranchers came home, the Department of Justice appealed Hogan’s lighter sentencing, arguing it was illegal to ignore the mandatory minimum sentence. Last fall, the Hammonds were resentenced and forced to return to prison – this time for five years. |
| Related: Oregon militia's behavior increasingly brazen as public property destroyed | Related: Oregon militia's behavior increasingly brazen as public property destroyed |
| “We didn’t think it could happen,” said Susie Hammond, adding that stress has taken a serious toll on her health. “We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. They just keep playing political, legal mind games with people and people’s lives.” | “We didn’t think it could happen,” said Susie Hammond, adding that stress has taken a serious toll on her health. “We thought we lived in America where you have one trial and you have one sentencing. They just keep playing political, legal mind games with people and people’s lives.” |
| Throughout Harney County, residents refer to the re-sentencing as a clear case of “double jeopardy”. Many have petitioned the White House to intervene. | Throughout Harney County, residents refer to the re-sentencing as a clear case of “double jeopardy”. Many have petitioned the White House to intervene. |
| Kerry Wagner, a 58-year-old Burns resident who runs a furniture business and is friends with the Hammonds, said it was painful to think about Dwight and Steven stuck behind bars. | Kerry Wagner, a 58-year-old Burns resident who runs a furniture business and is friends with the Hammonds, said it was painful to think about Dwight and Steven stuck behind bars. |
| “They are not used to being caged up. Look at all this land. They’re used to being out in the open,” he said. “It’s devastating … They’re just the nicest people.” | “They are not used to being caged up. Look at all this land. They’re used to being out in the open,” he said. “It’s devastating … They’re just the nicest people.” |
| Susie said she did not know the Bundys well and was not keeping up with what was happening at the refuge. Her top priority, she said, was finding a way to get her family back together. | |
| Due to various health problems, Susie said she did not like to drive long distances anymore – and without Dwight, she has been unable to regularly visit her children and grandchildren and travel around the rural county to run errands. | Due to various health problems, Susie said she did not like to drive long distances anymore – and without Dwight, she has been unable to regularly visit her children and grandchildren and travel around the rural county to run errands. |
| “It’s a long ways to and from places that you can deal with if you have a normal day,” she said. “We don’t have any normal days anymore.” | “It’s a long ways to and from places that you can deal with if you have a normal day,” she said. “We don’t have any normal days anymore.” |