Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The Cochise County Attorney's Office is reviewing a complaint filed against a Douglas rancher accused of threatening to harm a hunting party that included three children.

Ronald Morales, his father, two daughters and their friend contend that an Oct. 30 confrontation with rancher Roger Barnett while deer hunting on leased state land near Douglas left them frightened and scared for their lives.

Barnett has gained notoriety in recent years for detaining thousands of illegal immigrants on property that he owns or holds grazing rights to.

At a news conference Monday, Morales explained why his family and the parents of Emma English, his daughter's 11-year-old friend, filed a civil lawsuit against Barnett.

``Our families need to show our girls that no one can point a loaded gun, threaten to kill them and get away with it or to referring to us as `ignorant Mexicans,' '' he said.

The Morales and English families are American citizens and longtime Douglas residents.

``I didn't serve six years in the United States Navy so that my family's civil rights could be violated,'' Morales said.

The civil lawsuit filed Friday in Cochise County Superior Court alleges that Barnett's actions constituted assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit seeks more than $200,000 and punitive damages.

Jesus Romo, an attorney involved in the suit, said the parties also want the county attorney or the federal government to prosecute Barnett.

Barnett said he had not been served yet and declined comment other than that a sheriff's deputy's report of the incident should be examined.

Morales had called the sheriff's department on leaving the area, with Barnett following his truck.

The report noted that no ``no trespassing'' signs were posted and that gates were unlocked onto Saddle Gap Road, which leads to the area where the confrontation occurred - as Morales insisted.

But Barnett had accused the Morales' of taking down signs and unlocking the gates, or the Border Patrol of leaving them opened.

Morales' 11-year-old daughter, Venese, said she feels like she could have died in the incident with Barnett.

All three girls said Barnett pointed his AR-15, into which he had placed a bullet, at them.

The sheriff's department report was turned over to the county attorney's office to evaluate whether criminal charges should be filed, but a spokeswoman for deputy attorney Vince Festa said the review has not been completed.

Romo has filed two other pending lawsuits accusing Barnett of violating the rights of undocumented immigrants.