Leader of fatal Arizona sweat lodge ceremony pleads not guilty on 3 manslaughter charges

AZ sweat lodge leader pleads not guilty in deaths

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray has pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter in the deaths of three people at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony he led last year.

Ray was indicted and arrested on Wednesday for the deaths, which occurred at an Oct. 8 ceremony intended to be the highlight of his five-day “Spiritual Warrior” event. The ceremony was held at a retreat center he rented near Sedona.

Ray’s lawyer entered the plea Thursday on his behalf.

Ray is being held in the Yavapai County, Ariz., jail on $5 million bond and faces a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 12½ years on each count.

Ray’s attorneys call the charges unjust and say they’re confident he will be exonerated.

James Ray International, jamesray.com

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. (AP) — Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray is set to make his first court appearance on three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony he led last year.

Ray was indicted and arrested on Wednesday for the deaths at an Oct. 8 ceremony intended to be the highlight of his five-day “Spiritual Warrior” event. The ceremony was held at a retreat center he rented near Sedona.

Ray is being held in the Yavapai County, Ariz., jail on $5 million bond and faces a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 12½ years on each count. He’s scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

Ray’s attorneys call the charges unjust and say they’re confident he will be exonerated.

Two people passed out inside the sweat lodge and died that night. A third died a week later.

James Ray International, jamesray.com