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Another delay likely in Utah oil bidder’s trial

The Associated Press
Aspen, CO Colorado

SALT LAKE CITY – Another delay is likely in the trial of a college student charged with disrupting a federal lease auction for oil and gas drilling near Utah’s national parks.

Lawyers for Tim DeChristopher and the government tell The Associated Press the Sept. 14 trial date will have to be pushed back.

Both sides need time for arguments and a decision from a hearing that has yet to be scheduled.



Prosecutors want to block DeChristopher from arguing that ran up bids at a December auction without paying with a higher purpose in mind. He says he wanted to protect wild lands in Utah from drilling and call attention to climate change. That would be the so-called lesser-of-two-evils defense.

The trial originally was scheduled for July 6.