Utah judge sets June trial in oil lease case

SALT LAKE CITY

A federal judge set a June 21 trial date for the college student accused of sabotaging an oil-and-gas lease auction in Utah.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Dee Benson cut short an effort by DeChristopher's lawyers to argue he was being prosecuted selectively.

The government has acknowledged it never charged 19 other bid walkers at federal auctions since 2006.

Defense lawyer Pat Shea says DeChristopher is being prosecuted because he acted for environmental reasons.

DeChristopher failed to pay $1.7 million for parcels he won at the December 2008 auction in Salt Lake City.

Shea contends the Bush administration played tough with DeChristopher at the urging of angry oilmen who were forced to pay higher prices for their parcels at the auction.