URL: https://www.indianz.com/News/archives/003356.asp

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Leon Bear, chairman of the Skull Valley Goshute Tribe of Utah, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges that he stole tribal and federal funds.

Bear is accused of stealing more than $190,000 while pursuing a high-level nuclear waste facility on the reservation. He allegedly failed to report income while serving as chairman and as head of the tribe's economic development office.

Three tribal members who are political opponents of Bear were also indicted on separate counts of bank fraud. Along with their lawyer, they pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month.

All remain free pending trial. Bear's case may be postponed because he might switch lawyers.

Get the Story:
Goshute leader pleads innocent (The Salt Lake Tribune 1/21)
Goshute leader pleads innocent (The Deseret News 1/21)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Indictment (December 17, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe - http://www.skullvalleygoshutes.org

Related Stories:
Goshute faction pleads innocent to bank fraud (01/12)
Goshute chairman calls theft charges 'utterly false' (1/8)
Utah tribal chairman indicted for theft, fraud (12/19)
Goshute chairman indicted for alleged theft (12/18)
10th Circuit hears arguments in Goshute waste case (08/27)
Opponent to tribe's waste plans headed to D.C. (08/12)
Utah governor presses nuclear waste investigation (07/14)
Goshute members accuse tribe of persecution (07/11)
Panel considers Goshute nuclear waste plan (05/30)
Final ruling on Goshute nuclear could come soon (5/29)
Rulings support Goshute nuclear waste dump (5/28)
Goshute waste site survives earthquake review (5/23)
Goshute meeting said to be 'usual shouting match' (4/30)
Norton asked to pull approval for Goshute waste site (4/25)
Goshute Tribe rejects Griles deal as 'disingenuous' (4/24)
Lobbyist for Goshute waste facility paid well (4/23)
Panel to review revised Goshute waste proposal (04/07)
Scaled back Goshute nuclear plan unveiled (04/01)
Utah tribe's nuclear waste plan dealt big setback (03/11)
Court asked to review Goshute waste proposal (2/13)
Goshute leaders accused of retaliation (01/06)
Dissident Goshute challenge dismissed (10/02)
Rival Goshute lawsuit dismissed (9/13)
Nuke transportation routes worry some (8/26)
Goshute Tribe offers up its 'wasteland' (8/12)
Abraham fighting tribal waste plans (7/16)
Crash threat cited to Goshute facility (4/11)
Goshute rivals seek review of decision (4/2)
Abraham: Yucca Mountain is safe (3/26)
Goshute member cites high-level help (3/15)
FBI subpoenas Goshute leaders (3/14)
Order on Goshute finances halted (3/8)
Tribe ordered to disclose financials (2/26)
State loses tribal lease challenge (7/11)
Tiny tribe worried about nuclear push (5/9)
Tribe files suit to protect nuclear investment (4/20)
Utah bans high-level nuclear waste (03/14)

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