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HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) — A man who lost his western Montana ranch in a 1979 divorce has denied accusations that he threatened to take it back using any force necessary.
John Fesler Lance II pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony intimidation and violating a protective order during an initial appearance in District Court in Hamilton, KECI-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1rm9O4O ).
District Judge Jeffrey Langton kept bail for Lance at $200,000.
Lance, 73, was arrested Sept. 15 after arriving at the Florence-area ranch owned by Lee and Lucinda Hayne. Both held him at gunpoint until Ravalli County sheriff's deputies arrived.
Lance was released from prison in March after serving more than 20 years for intimidating judges, attorneys and others involved in the divorce case and was jailed from April through July for violating a protective order by showing up outside Lucinda Hayne's place of work after his release from prison.
Over the past several months, the Haynes or their attorney received correspondence from Lance threatening to use any force necessary to take the ranch back, including kidnapping the Haynes and holding them for ransom, court records show.
Earlier this month, the Montana Supreme Court rejected Lance's attempt to overturn a permanent order of protection that the Haynes were granted against him — the one he is charged with violating on Sept. 15.
The Haynes told investigators that even as they held Lance at gunpoint he told them they were trespassing and he had the right to use force to evict them, charging documents said.
Prosecutors filed for persistent felony status for Lance, which could lead to a longer sentence if he is convicted.
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Information from: KECI-TV, http://www.keci.com
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