Final defendants in artifact thefts receive initial hearing

MOAB — The last of the 24 people accused of stealing American Indian artifacts in southeastern Utah appeared before a federal judge Thursday.

Vern Crites, 74, from Durango, Colo.; Marie Crites, 68, from Durango, Colo.; Raymond Bourret, 59, from Durango, Colo.; Tammy Shumway, 29, from Blanding; Aubry Patterson, 55, from Blanding; and Harold Lyman, 78, from Blanding, all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal prosecutors sought to keep only Patterson in custody, calling him a potentially violent threat to government officials.

"Patterson stated he doesn't dare dig in caves because he does not feel like he can get away from law enforcement," prosecutor Richard McKelvey read from a transcript of a conversation between Patterson and an undercover agent. " 'Damn government these days' … If the government caught him, he would have to shoot them because he could not go to prison. Patterson stated he would rather die than go to prison."

Judge Samuel Alba, however, ordered Patterson's release, citing a criminal history that included alcohol and marijuana charges but no violent crimes.

"Sometimes I like to look tougher than I am," Patterson said in court.

Shumway remained in state custody to serve out the remaining 10 days of an unrelated conviction. Each of the other defendants was released.

Patterson's family members were visibly emotional during the hearing.

Defendants and family members declined to comment outside the courtroom.

"We don't care to talk about it right now," said Lyman, director of the San Juan County Visitor Center. Lyman was recently inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame for his work in creating the Trail of the Ancients, a scenic byway centered around the area's American Indian heritage.

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