POCATELLO – Lawrence Babcock, 71, of Moore, Idaho, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to one year probation for knowingly allowing his cattle to graze on Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered lands without a permit, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. Magistrate Judge Larry M. Boyle also ordered Babcock to pay $1,146 in restitution. The court imposed a $1,000 fine, which was suspended. As a condition of probation, Babcock may not allow his cattle to graze on BLM land.

Judge Boyle found Babcock guilty on November 7, 2011, following a one-day trial in July. During the trial, Judge Boyle heard evidence that Babcock's grazing permits had been revoked in 2002 for violating the terms of the permits, but he continued to graze his cattle on BLM land without a permit. Babcock admitted that between July 6 and August 23, 2010, he had seventy-eight head of cattle grazing on BLM land.

Evidence at trial and at sentencing showed that the BLM had tried to resolve multiple grazing violations with Babcock since 1996 without success. Despite his grazing permit having been revoked, he continued to graze cattle on BLM land between 2008 and 2011.

Judge Boyle warned Babcock that if his cattle are on BLM land again in 2012, he will be in violation of his probation and may go to jail. Judge Boyle told Babcock to stop fighting with the BLM and to abide by the law.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Land Management.