LAS VEGAS — A trial opened Thursday in Las Vegas for six people accused of illegally wielding weapons to block a federal roundup of cattle near states’ rights advocate Cliven Bundy’s ranch nearly three years ago.
Prosecutors told the US District Court jury the six men deserve prison for what could amount to the rest of their lives for conspiring with Bundy in what their indictment characterizes as ‘‘a massive armed assault against federal law enforcement officers.’’
Prosecutor Steven Myhre cast the defendants as willing participants in Bundy’s plan to retrieve cattle that had been corralled by the federal agents and contract cowboys.
‘‘Their intent was to make the BLM back down and get those cattle,’’ Myhre said. They succeeded, he said, ‘‘at the end of a rifle barrel. These defendants willingly and knowingly supplied that rifle barrel.’’
Prosecutors showed photos of each man with rifles at the scene.
Defense attorneys, though, said their clients are law-abiding citizens who protested government heavy-handedness and are now jailed for exercising their constitutional free speech and weapon rights.
‘‘This case, folks, is about standing up for what you believe. Nothing more and nothing less,’’ lawyer Richard Tanasi told the jury.
Todd Engel of Idaho, who is serving as his own attorney, told jurors he arrived in Nevada hours before the standoff and didn’t plan what he would do with anyone.
He acknowledged being armed with a military-style assault weapon and fatigues he called ‘‘my scary clothes’’ but said he never threatened the federal agents. ‘‘We didn’t go near them. We didn’t assault them. We were just standing around.’’
The six are the first of 19 defendants to stand trial after being arrested and jailed a year ago. Two pleaded guilty to reduced charges. The other 17, including Bundy and four of his sons, have pleaded not guilty.