Sweat lodge guru gets prison time

A judge has ordered James Arthur Ray, a self-help guru who led a sweat lodge ceremony in which three people died, to serve two years in prison.

Convicted of negligent homicide, Ray faced up to nine years in prison for the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., more than two years ago, The Associated Press reported. Ray received three two-year sentences, to be served concurrently, and has been ordered to pay more than $57,000 in restitution, the AP reported.

According to the New York Times:

The case stemmed from an October 2009 ceremony at a retreat near Sedona, Ariz., where hot stones were piled into the middle of a sweltering makeshift tent. Some who took part in the ceremony, which was intended to push people to conquer their limitations, said Mr. Ray ignored signs that some of the participants were falling ill from the heat about halfway through the planned two-hour experience.

"I see and I find that the aggravating circumstance of emotional harm is so strong and such that probation is simply unwarranted in this case," Judge Warren Darrow said, according to the AP.

At the sentencing in Yavapai County Superior Court in Camp Verde, Ariz., a tearful Ray asked for the victims’ relatives forgiveness and promised never to conduct a sweat lodge again, the Arizona Republic reported. Most of the victims’ family members appeared unmoved.

"Does he still not realize it was too damn hot?" Virginia Brown, Kirby Brown’s mother, shouted at Ray, who avoided eye contact, the Arizona Republic reported. “He ran this event. He was responsible, and he didn't stop it, and he didn't take care of his people."