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59 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, June 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 1, 2004 Harelson murder-plot trial delayed until Oct. 19 The trial has been postponed for a convicted Indian grave-looter charged with plotting to kill police, a judge and former business partners. Jack Lee Harelson was set to stand trial today, but the case was continued on a motion submitted by Harelson’s defense attorney, Bob Abel. The nine-day trial is now scheduled to open on Oct. 19. Harelson is accused of orchestrating a murder plot aimed at retired Josephine County Judge Loyd O’Neal, who presided over a 1996 trial that ended in Harelson’s conviction for looting Indian graves. Federal authorities in 2002 fined Harelson $2.5 million for looting American Indian graves in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Prosecutors said Harelson, 63, of Grants Pass, also sought to kill an ex-wife, former business associate Lloyd Olds, Curry County resident Richard Ledger and Oregon State Police Sgt. Walt Markee. State police arrested Harelson in January 2003 and charged him with paying an undercover police informant $10,000 in opals to murder Olds. He faces charges of attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, four counts of solicitation for murder, two counts of abusing a corpse and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Harelson’s former wife, Pamela Ralph, was a key witness in his 1996 trial. Olds, who lives in the Brookings area, testified that Harelson looted Indian graves. Harelson, Olds and Ledger shared interest in an opal mining venture in Nevada. Markee found the headless remains of two mummified Paiute Indian children in Harelson’s yard. OSP investigators said they stumbled onto the alleged murder plot while continuing their investigation into Harelson’s suspected sale of items taken from Indian graves. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times