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| James Ray jailed for Arizona sweat lodge deaths | James Ray jailed for Arizona sweat lodge deaths |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A self-help author is facing two years in prison for the deaths of three people at an Arizona "sweat lodge". | |
| James Ray was convicted in June of "negligent homicide" and will serve three sentences concurrently. | |
| The deaths occurred at the Angel Valley Retreat Center, 115 miles (180km) north of Phoenix, in October 2009. | The deaths occurred at the Angel Valley Retreat Center, 115 miles (180km) north of Phoenix, in October 2009. |
| Ray said at the hearing he would have stopped the ceremony if he knew people were in distress. He accepted blame for causing pain to the victim's families. | Ray said at the hearing he would have stopped the ceremony if he knew people were in distress. He accepted blame for causing pain to the victim's families. |
| The families of the three victims - Kirby Brown, James Shore and Liz Neuman - had pleaded for the maximum nine-year sentence. | The families of the three victims - Kirby Brown, James Shore and Liz Neuman - had pleaded for the maximum nine-year sentence. |
| Ray begged for forgiveness, and asked the judge to grant him probation in order to care for his ailing parents and put his life back together. | Ray begged for forgiveness, and asked the judge to grant him probation in order to care for his ailing parents and put his life back together. |
| 'Spiritual warrior' | 'Spiritual warrior' |
| Sweat lodges are typically used by American Indians to rid the body of toxins by pouring water over heated rocks in the structure. | Sweat lodges are typically used by American Indians to rid the body of toxins by pouring water over heated rocks in the structure. |
| Emergency services were called to the sweat lodge after some of the 50 people at the event reported they were having difficulty breathing. | Emergency services were called to the sweat lodge after some of the 50 people at the event reported they were having difficulty breathing. |
| Two people fainted during the ceremony and died later the same evening. A third participant died a week later after failing to wake up from a coma. | Two people fainted during the ceremony and died later the same evening. A third participant died a week later after failing to wake up from a coma. |
| Eighteen people were taken to hospital reportedly suffering from illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure. | Eighteen people were taken to hospital reportedly suffering from illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure. |
| Prosecutors said a reasonable person would have stopped the "abomination of a sweat lodge" when participants began showing signs of distress about halfway through the ceremony. | Prosecutors said a reasonable person would have stopped the "abomination of a sweat lodge" when participants began showing signs of distress about halfway through the ceremony. |
| Mr Ray, who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live, had rented the centre for his five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event. | Mr Ray, who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live, had rented the centre for his five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event. |
| Reports said some of the participants had paid up to $9,000 (£5,650) for their stay at the retreat, which also reportedly included a 36-hour fast. | Reports said some of the participants had paid up to $9,000 (£5,650) for their stay at the retreat, which also reportedly included a 36-hour fast. |