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Utah trial scheduled for Colorado man accused in cattle case

(Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune) In April 20017, this corral west of Bluff in Bears Ears National Monument was the scene of a confrontation between ranchers and environmental activist Rose Chilcoat and her husband Mark Franklin. San Juan County prosecutors allege the couple tried to deprive the cattle access to water by closing the gate pictured here. Chilcoat and Franklin say the felony charges are absurd, filed as payback for Chilcoat's watchdog activism on San Juan's public lands.

(Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune) In April 20017, this corral west of Bluff in Bears Ears National Monument was the scene of a confrontation between ranchers and environmental activist Rose Chilcoat and her husband Mark Franklin. San Juan County prosecutors allege the couple tried to deprive the cattle access to water by closing the gate pictured here. Chilcoat and Franklin say the felony charges are absurd, filed as payback for Chilcoat's watchdog activism on San Juan's public lands.

By The Associated Press
  | March 27, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
| Updated: 2:48 p.m.

Durango, Colo. • The case of a Colorado man accused of trying to kill a Utah rancher’s cattle is scheduled to go to trial next week.

The Durango Herald reports Mark Franklin is scheduled to be tried in Utah's Carbon County on charges of trespassing and wanton destruction of livestock.

Prosecutors say Franklin closed a rancher’s corral gate on grazing lands in southeastern Utah to purposely cut off water to cattle in 2017.

Franklin's attorney, Paul Cassell, says his client is looking forward to trial and is "confident the evidence will exonerate him."

Environmentalist Rose Chilcoat, the wife of Franklin, was initially charged, but the Utah attorney general’s office determined there wasn’t enough evidence.

The Durango couple claimed the charges were in retaliation for Chilcoat’s work with Great Old Broads for Wilderness.

By The Associated Press