April 8, 1996
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) -- A Klamath County rancher fighting foreclosure has adopted tactics used by the fugitive Montana Freemen, trying to pay his debt with a bogus money order signed by the anti-government group's leader.
In a copyright story, The Herald and News newspaper reported Friday that Isiah F. "Buck" Rodgers refused to pay a $900,000 debt to South Valley State Bank secured by his 12,930-acre cattle ranch.
The chain of events is similar to the one that led to the ongoing standoff between authorities and a group of anti-government Freemen fighting foreclosure of a ranch in Jordan, Mont.
The Rodgers family has threatened four Klamath County judges with criminal prosecution for fraud unless they revoke liens against the ranch, the newspaper reported. One document says any attempt to seize their property could result in bloodshed, for which they won't be held responsible.
Contacted by The Associated Press, Rodgers said he had agreed with the bank not to discuss his case publicly. However, he acknowledged that while he wasn't a member of the Freemen, he had some help in his efforts to fight off foreclosure.
Last August, Rodgers used a bogus money order for $1.3 million signed by LeRoy Schweitzer, jailed leader of the Montana Freemen, to try to pay off his mortgages, said Klamath County Sheriff's Capt. Roger Pitts.
The U.S. Postal Service refused to honor the money order, and Klamath County Circuit Judge Richard Rambo granted the foreclosure in January.
The week of March 17, several people carrying hunting rifles and sidearms showed up at Rodgers' ranch after he used the Internet to call for help, Pitts said. They have since left. Pitts said he spoke with Rodgers at his ranch at the time, but there was never any confrontation.
"Somewhere along the line, after they get this resolved in the courts, if it is found in the bank's favor, we will probably be given an order by the court to go out there and make a seizure of some type," Pitts said.
Meanwhile, there are no deputies stationed around the ranch, though one lives in the area, Pitts said.
While the bank proceeded with the foreclosure last fall, the Rodgers family began issuing documents purporting to place liens against various individuals in Klamath Falls for huge amounts of money.
One for $500 million was made against The Herald and News for refusing to publish so-called legal notices. A separate claim of $100 million was made against the newspaper's publisher with a request he sign a confession to criminal slander and other offenses.
Rodgers grew up in Bonanza and began ranching in South Poe Valley more than 50 years ago. Friends describe him as a hard worker with strong religious beliefs. He and his wife, Lorraine, 66, have four grown sons, who are partners in the ranch.
In 1990, he borrowed $716,000 from South Valley State Bank to buy 6,000 acres near Bryant Mountain, about 25 miles southeast of Klamath Falls. He offered thousands of acres he already owned and more than 1,000 head of cattle as collateral, according to records.
He borrowed $52,100 more in 1993 and $32,000 in 1995, posting irrigation equipment as collateral.
The Herald and News quoted unnamed sources saying Rodgers' ranch suffered in the droughts of 1992 and 1994.
Meanwhile, cattle prices have fallen more than 30 percent in the past 2 years.
Rodgers has filed several documents with the Klamath County clerk.
A "Declaration of Homestead" states Rodgers and his family "are natural born Free White Citizens in the republic state, Oregon."
A "Judicial and Constructive Notice of Record" accuses four Klamath County judges of fraud and orders them to revoke all liens against the Rodgers family property.
A "Motion for Relief from Judgment" condemns comments by Pitts warning that officers would fire on anyone who points a gun at them.
A "Declaration of Witnesses" filed in Klamath County Circuit Court last month warns against any attempt to seize the ranch.
"Any bloodshed that results from this action will be on the hands of those who try to deprive us of these rights and will be held responsible," it said.
Rodgers told The Associated Press he wouldn't attend a hearing scheduled for Monday on his case in Klamath County Circuit Court.
