'Jerry wants to get this thing going and get it on track,' defense counsel says

Jerry DeLemus remains for now at Strafford County Jail. (Courtesy photo)

The attorney for the Rochester man indicted in a 2014 Nevada standoff with federal agents expressed disappointment today over the decision by a federal judge to have his client's bail hearing in Las Vegas instead of Concord.

"It's too bad we have to take all the witnesses out to Nevada when we could have done it here in New Hampshire," said noted defense attorney Mark Sisti, who recently took over as lead defense counsel for Jerry DeLemus, who along with 18 others has been indicted in the armed standoff over grazing rights on federal land near Cliven Bundy's ranch.

Sisti said he could appeal and file writs to forestall the bail hearing's move to Las Vegas, but he said DeLemus is anxious to get the trial process under way so he can prove his innocence and come home to Rochester.

"Jerry wants to get this thing going and get it on track," Sisti said.

Last Wednesday in Concord U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Johnstone ruled the bail hearing should be in Nevada where DeLemus was indicted.

Mark Sisti

While the actual standoff occurred on April 12, 2014, before DeLemus had arrived at the Bundy Ranch in Bunkersville, Nev., the indictment accuses him of organizing subsequent patrols to keep federal agents from seizing Bundy's cattle.

DeLemus, a Tea Party activist and co-chair of the state Veterans for Trump for President group, was named in the March 3 indictment as a midlevel leader and organizer of the conspiracy, who, among other things: recruited, organized, trained and provided logistical support to gunmen and other followers and organized and led armed patrols and security checkpoints from April 12 till the end of May 2014.

A 60-some page indictment specifically charges him with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, assault on a federal officer, obstruction of justice, attempting to impede or injure a federal law enforcement officer, interference with interstate commerce by extortion, and several firearms charges, according to court records.

He was arrested on March 3 and ordered held without bail during his initial detention hearing on March 8.

Two days later a federal judge granted DeLemus and new defense attorney Sisti a second bail hearing, which DeLemus and his supporters had hoped would be in Concord.

DeLemus' stay on the bail hearing was granted till March 22, so he won't be transferred to a Nevada jail until after that, Sisti said.

Once he's in Nevada a new bail hearing will be scheduled.

Sisti said he was unsure how many witnesses might be making the trip to assist in DeLemus' case for bail in front of a federal judge in Las Vegas.

With DeLemus' legal fees beginning to mount, a webpage has been set up where supporters can donate money to help his family, including his wife, Susan DeLemus, a state rep; and her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's and lives with them. Click here to visit the website.

Alternatively, donors can write a check to Sue DeLemus and mail it to 57 Dustin Homestead, Rochester, NH 03867.