Death Lodge

James Ray Sentenced to Just Two Years in Prison For Sweat Lodge Deaths

By James King Fri., Nov. 18 2011 at 12:46 PM
Categories: Death Lodge
jamesray.jpg
James Ray's heading to the big house.
​Oprah-approved snake-oil salesman James Arthur Ray is going to prison.

Ray, who was found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide, was sentenced this afternoon to two years in prison for each of the three people who died during a 2009 "self-helf" sweat lodge ceremony near Sedona.

The sentences, however, will run concurrently, meaning Ray will do just two years in prison.

Additionally, Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Warren Darrow ordered Ray to pay $57,514.12 in restition.

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arizona, james arthur ray, negligent homicide, prison, spiritual warrior, sweat lodge
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Death Lodge

James Ray: Prison or Probation?

By James King Fri., Nov. 18 2011 at 7:00 AM
Categories: Death Lodge, Judge and Jury
jamesray.jpg
James Ray is scheduled to be sentenced today after being found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide.
​Oprah-approved "self-help" guru James Arthur Ray will be sentenced today after a jury found him responsible for the deaths of three people during a 2009 sweat lodge ceremony near Sedona.

Ray, who in September was convicted of three counts of negligent homicide, faces anything from probation to nine years in prison for the deaths of 49-year-old Liz Neuman, 38-year-old Kirby Brown, and 40-year-old James Shore.

See our coverage of Ray's death lodge here.

According to court documents obtained by New Times, Ray -- the leader of the "Spiritual Warrior" self-help retreat -- discouraged participants from leaving the sweat lodge, even as some were throwing up and passing out.

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Death Lodge

James Ray Death Lodge Trial Nearing an End; Faces Nine Years in Prison For Sweat Lodge Deaths

By James King Thu., Nov. 17 2011 at 9:53 AM
Categories: Death Lodge
sweatlodge heat.jpg
New Times
​The sentencing phase of the trial for convicted snake-oil salesman James Arthur Ray is coming to an end as prosecutors urge the judge in the case to sentence the Oprah-approved "self-help" guru to the maximum: nine years in prison.

Ray was convicted in September on three counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of three people who'd paid thousands of dollars to attend his "Spiritual Warrior" retreat near Sedona.

Part of the retreat had participants crammed into a poorly ventilated, tiny sweat lodge. Dozens were injured during the sweat lodge event, and three people -- 49-year-old Liz Neuman, 38-year-old Kirby Brown, and 40-year-old James Shore -- died.

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arizona, criminally negligent homicide, james ray, sentencing hearing, spiritual warrior, sweat lodge
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Death Lodge

Should James Ray Go to Prison?

By James King Thu., Sep. 22 2011 at 7:00 AM
Categories: Death Lodge, Morning Poll
sweatlodge heat.jpg
New Times
​James Arthur Ray, the Oprah-approved snakeoil salesman responsible for the deaths of three people, is set to be sentenced next month after getting convicted of three counts of negligent homicide -- and he doesn't think he belongs in prison.

Ray considers himself a self-help guru -- the three deaths for which he's responsible happened during a "spiritual warrior" self-help event where he stuffed dozens of people into a poorly ventilated sweat lodge and discouraged them from leaving.

See more of New Times' coverage of Ray's death lodge fiasco here.

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arizona, james ray, negligent homicide, sedona, sentencing, spiritual warrior, sweat lodge
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Death Lodge

James Ray Vows No More Sweat Lodge Events. Umm...Good Call

By James King Wed., Sep. 21 2011 at 3:57 PM
Categories: Death Lodge
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James Ray faces up to nine years in prison when he's sentenced next month.
​Oprah-approved snake-oil salesman James Arthur Ray says he won't be hosting sweat lodge events anymore, which is a great decision considering the last time he did, three people died and dozens were injured.

Ray is currently awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of three people during a "self-help" sweat lodge event in Sedona in 2009.

Ray recently told a probation officer that he has "extreme remorse" for the people who died during his "ceremony," and takes responsibility for their deaths.

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arizona, james arthur ray, negligent homicide, sedona, sentencing, spiritual warrior, sweat lodge
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Animal Use and Abuse

PETA Compares James Ray's Sweat Lodge Victims to Dogs Left in Hot Cars

By James King Mon., Jun. 27 2011 at 2:32 PM
Categories: Animal Use and Abuse, Death Lodge, PETA
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PETA
​As Oprah-approved "self-help" guru James Arthur Ray prepares for sentencing after getting convicted of negligent homicide for the deaths of three people at a sweat lodge ceremony, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are trying to capitalize on the publicity his case received -- by comparing the victims of his fatal death lodge to dogs who get stuck in hot cars.

PETA is negotiating with outdoor advertisers near Sedona, the sight of Ray's deadly "Spiritual Warrior" self-help retreat, to display a billboard showing a distressed dog in a parked car next to the caption "A Sweat Lodge Can Kill You. A Parked Car Can Kill Him. Dogs Overheat Faster Than Humans."

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arizona, dogs, james arthur ray, james shore, kirby brown, liz neuman, peta, sweat lodge
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Death Lodge

James Ray Guilty of Negligent Homicide; Manslaughter Charges Didn't Stick

By James King Wed., Jun. 22 2011 at 3:40 PM
Categories: Death Lodge
jamesray.jpg
James Ray was found guilty of negligent homicide. Manslaughter charges didn't stick.
​"Spiritual warrior" James Ray was found guilty today of three counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of three people at a 2009 "self-help" retreat near Sedona, during which he guided dozens of people into a poorly ventilated "sweat lodge" and discouraged them from leaving when they felt sick.

Ray could have been convicted of manslaughter.

See more of New Times' coverage of Ray's death lodge fiasco here.



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Death Lodge

James Ray Death Lodge Trial: Mistrial Considered by Judge

By James King Wed., Apr. 13 2011 at 10:18 AM
Categories: Death Lodge
sweatlodge heat.jpg
​Attorneys for snake-oil salesman James Arthur Ray have requested a mistrial in the "self-help guru's" manslaughter trial because they say prosecutors failed for more than a year to turn over an e-mail that could help exonerate their client.

Ray pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter stemming from the October 2009 deaths of three participants of a sweat lodge ceremony in Sedona.

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arizona, james arthur ray, manslaughter, mistrial, sedona, spiritual warrior, sweatlodge
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Death Lodge

James Ray to Death Lodge Participants: "You Have Faced Your Own Death"

By James King Thu., Mar. 10 2011 at 1:14 PM
Categories: Death Lodge
sweatlodge heat.jpg
​Beforeallegedly being responsible for the deaths of three people in a make-shift death tent, snakeoil salesman James Arthur Ray reportedly told participants of his "Spiritual Warrior" self-help retreat near Sedona in 2009 that, when they emerged from the sweat lodge, they will have "faced [their] own death."

He also apparently considers a collection of tarps thrown together to make a tent to be a structure as sacred as the Vatican.

Yesterday, jurors in Ray's manslaughter case heard a 45-minute audio recording of a pre-sweat-lodge pep talk the self-help guru gave to participants of his deadly retreat.

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Death Lodge

James Ray Death Lodge Trial Starts Today

By James King Tue., Mar. 1 2011 at 8:37 AM
Categories: Death Lodge
sweatlodge heat.jpg
​The manslaughter trial for snake oil salesman James Arthur Ray is set to kick off in Yavapai County courtroom today, and it will be televised live on the In Session network thanks to a ruling from Judge Warren Darrow.

Ray's been charged with three counts of manslaughter for the October 2009 deaths of three participants of a sweat lodge ceremony in Sedona.

According to court documents obtained by New Times, Ray discouraged participants from leaving the sweat lodge, even as some were throwing up and passing out.



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arizona, james ray, manslaughter, spiritual warrior, sweat lodge, trial
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