What was really interesting was how Ranger Barry Nelson ran a gun business on the side, allegedly using BLM letterheads to purchase guns at a discount from a Nevada weapons dealer, some of which were resold at a profit to private parties not employed as BLM law enforcement personel. Local witnesses place Nelson and Mike Castro together shooting solid projectile weapons near the Bowen Ranch on at least one occasion. The relationship between these two is much more than professional duties on the Ranger's part. The frequent visits by Ranger Nelson to Mike Castro and Castro's visits to the Barstow field office requesting to speak personaly with Nelson stronly suggests some close associations between these two.
That and Nelson's direct supervision of the "OHV Patrol" during the Willow Fire raises even more questions. Local residents were told by Nelson that the OHV patrol was established to prevent resource damage from illegal OHV entry into the fire closure. It turns out there was a seperate agenda by these "OHV Volunteers" and their supervising Ranger. Local residents are breathing some fresh air now that the smell of a dirty and crooked alcoholic Ranger has left the Juniper Flats area. Unfortunatly,some of his stoolies and cronies remain. What the residents of Juniper Flats are asking for is a fair, honest and unbiased Law enforcement presence from the BLM in Juniper Flats. Is that asking too much? We think not.