James Arthur Ray To Ask For Bond Reduction

PHOENIX, Ariz. (WTAQ) - The man who ran a sweat lodge ceremony in which a Milwaukee man died was trying to get his $5 million bond reduced Tuesday. Lawyers for James Arthur Ray call his bond “excessive and oppressive” – especially considering that he does not have a criminal history. Ray has pleaded not guilty to 3 counts of manslaughter in the death of 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee and 2 others at a sweat lodge ceremony last fall near Sedona Arizona.

Defense lawyers said Ray could not afford his bail, even though he told reporters he was worth $10 million a year ago. But his lawyers say Ray owes massive amounts to attorneys and other creditors – and he really has a negative net worth of $4.2 million.