Cliven Bundy

Cliven Bundy, as seen in January, made his first appearance in custody before a U.S. judge in Las Vegas on Friday, March 4, 2016, but wasn't asked to enter pleas to the 16 charges against him including conspiracy, assault, obstruction and threatening a federal officer.

(The Associated Press)

Updated at 6:14 p.m.

LAS VEGAS -- The renegade rancher at the center of a states-versus-federal rights fight made his first appearance before a U.S. judge in Las Vegas on Friday, while one of his sons did likewise in Utah.

Four others appeared before federal judges in Idaho, bringing to 19 the number of people charged with conspiracy, assault and other crimes in connection with the 2014 armed standoff over grazing cattle on U.S. land near Cliven Bundy's Nevada ranch.

In Las Vegas, Cliven Bundy stood beside a federal public defender but wasn't asked to enter pleas to the 16 charges against him, which include conspiracy, assault, obstruction and threatening a federal officer.

The cattleman was returned to Nevada from Oregon, where he'd been held since his Feb. 10 arrest. He'd gone to visit two of his sons jailed during the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Hoffman expressed doubt that Bundy would qualify for a lawyer at public expense and gave the 69-year-old rancher until Thursday to hire a lawyer or file revised financial disclosure forms.

Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, Bundy's 38-year-old son Dave Bundy appeared in federal court for the first time since FBI agents arrested him last month at a home he is building in Delta, Utah. A judge will hold a hearing Wednesday to decide whether he should be released before trial.

His wife Marylynn Bundy insists that he is innocent of the charges.

Also Friday, four Idaho residents charged in connection with the Nevada standoff were appointed public defenders during their first federal court appearances.

If convicted, the Idaho Statesman reports, Eric James Parker, Steve Arthur Stewart, O. Scott Drexler and Todd Engle could face life sentences and the forfeiture of approximately $3 million in property, plus cattle and firearms.

Parker and Stewart, both of Hailey, Idaho, and Drexler, of Challis, Idaho, appeared in person in the Boise federal courtroom. Engle, a resident of Boundary County, is being held in Coeur d'Alene and appeared via video conference.

Drexler, Parker and Stewart are scheduled for detention hearings Wednesday in Boise. Engle's detention hearing is set for Thursday in Coeur d'Alene.

-- The Associated Press