Arizona judge lowers bond from $5 million to $525,000 for self-help guru in sweat lodge case

Judge lowers bond for guru in sweat lodge case

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — An Arizona judge has lowered the bond for a motivational speaker charged with manslaughter from $5 million to $525,000.

Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Warren Darrow issued the ruling Thursday, a day after a bond reduction hearing for James Arthur Ray.

Ray has pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter stemming from a sweat lodge ceremony he led near Sedona last October.

Darrow ordered Ray to surrender his passport and said he cannot organize, supervise or conduct any sweat lodge ceremonies or other activities that might harm others.

The bail is less than the $1.5 million prosecutors contended was appropriate. Ray’s attorneys had asked that he be released without bail or bond set at a couple hundred thousand dollars.